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‘Austin Gatt’s policy led to Arriva fiasco’ - AD
Greens say Nationalist’s policy to reduce public transport costs led to Arriva starting on the wrong foot
9 January 2014, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
In light of government-owned Malta Public Transport Services Ltd taking over Arriva's operations, Alternattiva Demokratika has hit out at former Transport Minister Austin Gatt's policy of reducing the public transport expenditure.
Bringing an end to Arriva's tumultuous two-and-a-half year stay in Malta, January 2 saw the government sign a share transfer agreement with the bus company. The agreement saw Transport Malta take over Arriva's assets and €3 million in debt plus accruals.
Spurred on by the previous PN administration, Arriva Malta, was constantly in the ire of commuters with complaints of inefficiency and unsatisfactory routes often being the stumbling block between the operators and Maltese commuters.
"Consequent to Austin Gatt's policy of reducing public transport expenditure, Arriva's operations started on the wrong foot. The lack of buses, long routes, less frequent buses as well as continuous changes to the routes led Arriva to refuse to invest more efficient and decent service," Alternattiva Demokratika said.
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi cited Arriva's lack of insistence to invest in the new routes as the watershed moment that eventually led to the government nationalising the public transport operations.
Meanwhile, AD transport spokesperson Ralph Cassar said that being a public service, public transport requires adequate state financing.
"There are several reasons why state financing is fundamental, namely the fact that an efficient public transport reduces traffic from the streets, gives back open spaces to the public and reduces air pollution," Cassar argued.
The AD spokesperson also welcomed the waiving of the discriminatory bus ticketing rate between Maltese and expats living in Malta - an arbitrary decision that caused discomfort for EU residents in Malta.
"Our appeal to the government is when drawing up the expression of interest for the new bus operator, it should emphasise the need for an expanded service in terms of time schedules during rush hours. It is just as important to maintain the high standards of the vehicles used - both in terms of emissions as well as accessibility."
The Greens also urged the government to identify additional sources of income to finance the transport service and to expand different forms of transport services.
Moreover, AD said that an effort should be made for additional vehicles to operate using electricity or natural gas.
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U iva, so what if we had the Arriva disaster, EneMalta's two white elephants and its near bankruptcy; AirMalta's moribund financial situation? GonziSimonPN government is still the best ever in Malta's history! Lol...but believe it or not this is the'impression'that Simon Busutill is trying to convey by his 'NOs' to every new law being enacted by the PL? SimonPN oozes arrogance by the second!
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Guzep, I agree with what you said, what I don't understand is If you knew this much about sidekicks why
is Austin Gatt not being prosecuted?
Politicians are all the same. The show must go on.
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‘Austin Gatt’s policy led to Arriva fiasco’ - AD Amen to that but in the meantime Austin Gatt moved on and left the Maltese Tax payer holding the bag just like Tonio Fenech did to the Tax Payer with Air Malta. These two Ministers knew very little about mass transportation whether in the air or on the ground. Tonio Fenech tried his best to save Air Malta even if it was at the expense of the Tax payer. Then Minister Austin Gatt and his sidekick made things worse when they entrusted Transport Malta to be in charge of Arriva which was the other side of the Public Transportation Fiasco. The sad part was that, then PM Lawrence Gonzi gave both of these incompetent Ministers his blessing and never even tried to correct the mistakes that is costing the Tax Payer millions of euros. Austin Gatt is gone and laughing all the way to the bank and there is nothing the Tax payer can do except pay the bill. Politicians should be held responsible for their sins and not let them get away with murder, as the saying goes. We entrust the government to do whatever is right for Malta and the Maltese people but somehow we have to find a way to stop these people from getting away after the fact. Honestly, we all clapped and waved palm when Austin Gatt brought Arriva into the picture because we trusted him to bring a better public Transportation system to Malta. But alas Lawrence Gonzi sent a boy to London to do a man's job. Austin Gatt and his sidekick knew nothing about public transportation and to top it off, neither did Transport Malta. So us, the Tax Payers are left holding the bag while the Ex Minister is long gone and laughing all the way to the bank. Maybe Franco Debono was smart enough to know?
