The idea for the liberalisation of taxis has developed without conducting any study on its impact on the local market, the Association of White Taxis said.

The comments follow the launch of a document on taxi reform, which the government would like to see in place by the end of the year and which would involve the sector's liberalisation.

The document, the association said, was drawn up primarily on the basis of Transport Minister Austin Gatt's express wish to liberalise taxis.

While the association acknowledged that the discussion document included some of its suggestions, it pointed out that it did not really agree with other proposals.

At its launch on Saturday, Dr Gatt said he had had several intensive talks with the association and that they were on the same wavelength. But the association said it only got to know about the reform document because it spoke to ministry officials on about four occasions.

The document compares the local taxi tariffs to another eight cities, showing Malta to have one of the higher minimum rates, for example. The association insisted such parallels could not be made.

"These references can help us understand the position in these cities but they are irrelevant on the local scenario and that is why we need a deep and serious analysis of our market by competent persons," the association said.

Nevertheless, it was confident that discussions would continue and augured that fast decisions, based on ideas that were not studied and would leave a negative impact on everyone, would not be taken.