Transport Minister Joe Mizzi is mum on the details of a share transfer agreement Transport Malta will sign with Arriva by year’s end.

He urged journalists this morning to wait for a couple of days, not wanting to commit himself until the two sides put pen to paper.

However, while explaining that the predicament Arriva found itself in was not of the government’s making, Mr Mizzi let slip that the company accumulated a debt of €50 million since starting operations in 2011.

It is unclear how much of this debt is due to operational losses and capital expenditure but Arriva has reportedly lost millions over the past two-and-a-half-years – this year alone the company is said to have lost €23 million.

Mr Mizzi said the government wanted to avoid Arriva’s liquidation, an option considered by the company, which would have left the country without a public transport infrastructure.

“I wanted to seek the country’s best interest and the workers’ best interest. With liquidation the country would have had a problem and workers would have been without a job. At every step I will seek the best deal for the country.”

Mr Mizzi confirmed that the foreigners will start paying the same fares as residents in the New Year, a decision that will come at a cost. The minister did not put a price tag on the change, saying the government company that will take over the service will seek to recoup some money through better efficiency.

Mr Mizzi was speaking under a gazebo after rain disrupted a press conference at an Mtarfa playing field he was inaugurating. 

The work on the playing field was done by public works employees and the job was completed in eight months.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com