I can understand the anger at the government's decision to compensate bus owners. It is not like we did not anticipate it, seeing they are among the least popular bunch of people in the community, and any payout at this tough economic time is not likely to be ignored in any case.

So why do it? Because it is the right thing to do. Because it is everyone's right to receive compensation in these circumstances. Because each one of us should defend this fundamental right, in all circumstances and independently of whom it benefits.

There are profound reasons why our Constitution, European case law, and the repeated decisions of Maltese courts protect the right of every citizen to enjoy their property without fear that a government will take it away from them on the pretext of some public good without compensating them for their loss. The rights of individuals in a democratic society are not granted or denied on the basis of whether those individuals are popular or enjoy a good reputation. The rule of law must be applied and defended indiscriminately.

This is a right enshrined in every democratic country, a right I and many others like me fought for in pre-1987 days. This is a principle the Nationalist Party has fought for through the worst years of Socialist oppression. Dom Mintoff ignored that right many a time - when he nationalised the banks, when he threw out doctors, the harbour service providers, hospitals, land and school owners and whoever else he deemed had to be shut down and their property and business requisitioned for 'the people', without compensation. He fomented class envy and demonised segments of our community to justify robbing them of what belonged to them.

We have a strong public service case for shutting down the public transport system. The public are right to be unhappy with the service they have been getting, which is why we are buying out the operators and opening the concession to tender. But this public service case does not give us the right to take property away from people and leave them with nothing.

The bus itself is not the only property we are taking. We are also taking away from bus owners their public transport business - their right to make a profit from the scheduled service, from the schools transport contract, and from private hire of buses. This has a value, which we are legally and morally obliged to compensate.

The Chamber of Commerce has been quite visceral in its criticism of our decision to compensate bus owners. I was surprised at Helga Ellul's remarks. I wonder why, using the same yardstick, the chamber has not criticised us for seeking alternative premises for shops that are being shut down in connection with the City Gate project. Applying their reasoning would mean we simply show them the door (which government has a legal right to do actually!)

Reforming public transport is a priority because this country is wasting millions of euros every year on its dependence on private cars. Constant traffic jams are consuming millions because people and goods are taking longer to arrive to their destination. Millions are being consumed in inefficient fuel consumption and on treating respiratory diseases because of the poor air we breathe in congested areas. Reforming public transport is a priority for our economy and postponing the reform again is an unacceptable waste of public funds.

We had the option to let bus owners continue to absorb inefficient subsidies (€8 million a year) as they drove around 50-year-old rickety shacks which fewer and fewer people want to use for their transport. The choice of reforming public transport without paying for the exit of the incumbents simply did not exist. We are paying them no more than what is their due.

We are paying the average price of transferring a bus business as evidenced by public contracts executed by notaries. To buy the business they took loans, as anyone would, using their own homes as collateral. Today some of them are out of pocket by some €50,000, trying to find a way to deal with the bank in the few months left they have to rebuild their lives and earn a new livelihood for their families.

I find it difficult not to empathise with these situations. There is no bus owner or bus driver I know who deserves to be disliked so much as to be thrown out onto the street destitute because the government has made fresh plans.

I will not defend the quality of bus owners' service over the past several years, but I will defend any day every individual's right to the enjoyment of their property or to proportionate compensation if the government takes it away from them for some greater good - every individual, including bus owners.

Dr Gatt is Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications.