The government yesterday refused to cave in to the threat made by public transport workers to strike tomorrow over plans to liberalise the hearse sector.
A spokesman for the Transport Ministry urged people to help each other in the face of this "unfair disservice" - by offering lifts to people stranded on bus-stops, especially the elderly and those with mobility problems.
He told The Sunday Times: "It is immoral for an operator of a monopoly to stop their service without even providing a basic emergency service for the sick, the needy, not to mention the dead and their relatives."
The spokesman said that no contingency plan could replace 245 buses, several dozen mini-buses, hearses and 200 taxis, and there would be "considerable inconvenience" to the public with the stoppages showing a "callous indifference" to customers' fate.
The Motor Hearse Association yesterday reiterated its threat to go on strike from 6 a.m. tomorrow. And buses, mini-vans and white taxis are also expected to strike, freezing the national public transport system.
The Health Division is looking at various options indicated in the Burials Ordinance Act and the Public Health Act to counter the effects of the hearse strike.
The Transport Federation announced it was taking industrial action last Friday, after Cabinet approved liberalising the hearse sector.
This Cabinet decision was taken barely a week after the federation had called on Transport Minister Austin Gatt to withdraw his proposal to liberalise sectors relating to coaches, taxis and other means of transport.
The government is adamant that threats by monopoly-holders will not change its decision to liberalise the market, and denied the association's claims that the previous administration had agreed not to issue any more permits for hearses.
In a strongly-worded statement issued yesterday afternoon, the ministry said the association demanded an eternal monopoly guarantee, the right for licence holders to sell their licence or leave it in their will, and to allow those with a criminal record to drive a hearse.
The ministry said monopolies decreased the incentive for investment. It also pointed out that the government waived the registration tax on new hearses in 2006 so that older vehicles could be replaced - a subsidy of €28,000 to each operator.
Taxpayers have also forked out some €9 million to replace buses, while red vans, which also enjoy a monopoly, are so old that the use of seat belts cannot be enforced.
"These are all symptoms of protectionism which discourage the need for investment and improvement in the quality of service. Competition and private investment are the true solution to this problem," it said, adding that the time had come for public transport to be reformed and monopolies removed.
Earlier yesterday, the hearses association described the issuing of new licences as "an injustice" after the owners had invested thousands of euros to change their hearses.
Its president, John Bray, said the market was unable to support new operators, since only five or six hearses operated every day. He also insisted that removing the hearse monopoly would not make funerals cheaper.
While offering mediation, Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat described the government's decision to liberalise hearses as abrupt and said the measure was not included in the PN's electoral programme.
Referring to the controversy, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday said that strikes did not solve problems. He said that while the government had to listen to the opinions of the operators, it also had to listen to the users of this service.
Among those in favour of liberalisation is Karmenu Mifsud whose four brand new hearses are stuck in a garage awaiting licence plates. Mr Mifsud was given a permit to operate two hearses two years ago. He will not be joining in the strike.