The Nationalist Party said today that the government should not continue to keep the agreement it had reached with Arriva under wraps.

Spokesman Toni Bezzina said in a statement said a week had passed since the agreement was signed but the document had not been published in full. Publication was important in the interests of transparency and so that all stakeholders could be given a proper picture of the situation. 

The current period of transition to a new operation was important as it enabled the country to consider public transport and the targets which needed to be achieved in order for quality to improve.

That include a mature discussion on the positives and negatives of the reform which saw the engagement of Arriva. But an informed debate could only take place if the agreement was published and there was transparency in the selection of the new operator.

The PN said that during the transition it also expected the government to be a model operator. It expected the government to ensure that the service was efficient, that jobs were safeguarded and fares and subsidies did not rise. 

The PN also urged the government to publish the new routes discussed with local councils.