I find the story of the recent granting of 20 taxi operating licences rather perplexing. The highest bidder is forking out €105,000 for the permit. If this operator makes €100 a day in fares and works seven days a week , and assuming that he gets a vehicle at no cost and does not spend a cent on road licence, insurance, maintenance and fuel, it would still take him/her almost three years to break even. No wonder Maltese taxi drivers have a reputation for overcharging.

In making the announcement, Transport Malta (read government) tells us, quite proudly, that the national coffers will collect over €1 million through this exercise. But is this right? I feel that rather than curbing abuse, which makes taxi rides here among the most expensive in the world, the authorities are putting financial pressure on the operators from the word go, thus becoming prime accomplices to an unhappy situation. Will liberisation and competition bring the fares down? I wonder. Or am I too naïve and this business is very lucrative after all!