Transport Minister Austin Gatt has accused Transport Federation president Victor Spiteri of speaking publicly about the nature of mediation attempts in order to scuttle them.

"Don't you even want mediation now? If you do not wish to speak to me directly, at least allow space for mediation. How else do you think you had extricate yourself from the corner you have drawn yourself into?" Dr Gatt asked in a letter to Mr Spiteri.

Dr Gatt also told Mr Spiteri that if he wished to speak in public, at least he should be truthful. He denied that the ministry had offered €60,000 to be distributed among the hearses owners, saying assistance had been offered to their cooperative to gear itself for a liberalised market. This was the sort of assistance which had been given to other cooperatives too.

As to a claim that he had kept the offer secret, Dr Gatt said such a claim was very surprising, given that the mediator was actually very close to the drivers and he had voluntarily come forward to offer mediation services.