Transport Minister Austin Gatt has admitted losing no sleep over an opposition motion calling for his resignation following the chaotic start to the public transport reform.
“I will address the issues raised in Parliament but all I can say is that on the day I slept well,” Dr Gatt said yesterday.
On Tuesday, opposition spok-esman Joe Sammut gave notice of a motion to the Clerk of the House blaming Dr Gatt, the minister’s political appointees and Transport Malta’s top management for the wrong decisions on the reform and calling for their resignation.
The motion, which recognised the courteous drivers and air conditioned buses as “possibly the only positive aspect”, also asked for all contracts to be published.
But Dr Gatt was unperturbed by the call for him to step down and his one-sentence reply yesterday came on the same day his ministry took out adverts in the newspapers with the headline “We listen” to announce new direct bus routes to Mater Dei hospital from all towns and villages.
The reform had originally done away with the direct hospital routes, a move heavily criticised by commuters, especially elderly people.
Transport Malta and the company that won the 10-year public transport contract, Arriva, launched a number of new and improved routes on September 11 as a reaction to widespread public discontent after the service started operating in July. Further changes are expected over the coming weeks.
Riding on the wave of criticism that has swelled since the bus service operated by Arriva hit the road, the Labour motion says commuters are disappointed because they have to pay higher fares for lengthier bus journeys and complicated routes.
Dr Gatt’s terse reaction to the motion was described by the Labour Party as a sign of “arrogance beyond limits”.
“If the minister is sleeping well, it is a sign he is comfortable and well served,” the Labour statement said. Not the same could be said for children, young people and workers who had to wake up early to go to school or work, the party said.
“A serious minister would have been greatly concerned at the suffering he caused and consider resigning,” the statement said, accusing the government of being cut off from the realities faced by families.
The new hospital routes will be operational from tomorrow except for the Mġarr, Għargħur, Marsaxlokk, Dingli and Mtarfa links which will come into force on November 6.
Transport Malta also announced the introduction of new routes such as number 24 that will provide a direct service to Valletta from Ta’ Ġiorni and Kappara. Route 82 from Birżebbuġa to Valletta has also been re-routed to reduce the time of the journey to 37 minutes from the previous 57 minutes.