Updated 7.40pm - One of the bidders for the bus service contract said this evening that it could not understand how the Transport Minister had said talks were being held with the preferred bidder when no such preferred bidder had been formally announced.  

This morning, the minister, Joe Mizzi, said talks with the preferred bidder had begun. It is understood that the talks are being held with Spanish company Autobuses de Leon.

He said that three bids had been submitted but did not reveal which company was the preferred bidder. 

Times of Malta reported on Saturday that Spanish company Autobuses de Leon was in pole position while two Maltese companies – Gozo First and Island Buses Malta – had also bid to operate the service.

In a statement this evening, Island Buses said it was never involved in any talks with the government or Transport Malta,

Neither had it been informed about which company had been selected as the preferred bidder. Therefore, it said that no talks could have been held with any bidder before the preferred bidder was announced in terms of the call for expressions of interest.

Mr Mizzi made his announcement in Paceville after he launched a campaign to beef up cleanliness on Malta's roads and tourist areas.

Asked about complaints by a company which forms part of a bidding consortia that the minister was refusing to meet them for talks, Mr Mizzi said he never refused any meetings and met whoever requested to meet him.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that tourism levels this year were expected to hit record levels exceeding 1.6 million arrivals. August would be the peak month with 220,000 tourists expected to visit the island.

Such a large influx needed a better infrastructure and for this reason €1.5 million were being invested in the cleansing sector to be used for the purchase of new equipment and more litter bins in tourist areas.

Mr Mizzi remarked that, last year, a number of zones which needed to be cleaned up more often were identified.

To cater for the demand, 70 employees were engaged with the cleansing section and €300,000 were invested in new equipment. Another €100,000 were spent on the installation of more than 500 waste bins. They will be emptied twice daily and washed at least once a week.

A centralised call centre has been launched with a Freephone on 1718 where the public can file reports.

 

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