The Transport Authority (ADT) is today expected to contact the Public Transport Association (PTA) and invite its officials to see the certification documents of the authority's emission testers, a spokesman for the Transport Ministry said yesterday.
"In a statement last week, the ADT invited PTA officials to visit its buildings to see the certification documents of ADT emission testers. From PTA statements, it is clear that this was a major cause for concern that should be resolved immediately if its officials see the certifying documents. The ministry is informed by the ADT that it will be following up on that invitation on Monday (today)," the ministry spokesman said when contacted.
Last week the PTA directed bus owners not to take their buses for emission tests until it was assured that those carrying out the tests were suitably qualified.
The PTA is demanding to see the qualifications of the ADT personnel entrusted to conduct the tests. It also wants the bus drivers themselves, and not the ADT officials, to handle the buses during the tests.
The ADT is insisting it has qualified officials to test the buses and has invited the association officials to see this for themselves.
On Friday, the PTA called for talks with the Transport Ministry and the ADT with a view to resolving the dispute.
When asked whether any such meeting would be held, the ministry spokesman said: "As we see it, this is a law enforcement issue and we are not aware from any PTA statement on the subject that there is an issue on the nature of the law but on its enforcement.
"We are informed by ADT that those procedures will be discussed this week. Therefore, we do not think it is necessary at this stage to participate in talks as a ministry since the matter appears to be purely technical.
"Emission rules, as any other law, are to be followed and enforced. That was and remains our position on the matter," the spokesman said.
The association could not be reached to see whether it was going to accept the ADT's invitation.
Alternattiva Demokratika urged the authorities yesterday not to give in to pressure by the bus owners.
"Malta suffers from high ambient concentrations of air borne dust (partly due to the emission of black smoke by diesel engines), AD spokesman for transport, Mark Scerri said, adding that this pollutant has serious effects on human health.
"It is, therefore, inconceivable that heavy emitters of this pollutant such as the older buses are allowed to pollute the air without restraint.
"We believe that the VRT standards should be tightened especially with respect to emissions of dark smoke (particulate matter) so as to make sure that vehicles emitting copious amounts of dark smoke are removed from the road and are replaced with cleaner engines.
"We are also of the opinion that the current emissions reporting system has been far too lenient," added Mr Scerri.