Commuters, drivers victims of Joe Mizzi’s incompetence, PN says

Despite spending millions in publicity campaigns government never had a roadmap for public transport, opposition MP Marthese Portelli said.

“Transport minister Joe Mizzi’s incompetence has now reached new heights,” Portelli said, in reference to the minister’s failure in preventing a bus strike today.

The opposition’s shadow minister for transport added that despite LAbour’s electoral pledge to improve public transport, “we now have a minister who instead of cleaning up his own mess is shifting responsibility on others and as a result commuters and drivers are the ones suffering the consequences.”

Portelli said that the drivers are paying the price for the “unacceptable” mismanagement of public transport which have led to low wages and improper working conditions.

Noting that these conditions have repercussions on the health and security of drivers and commuters, the MP said its also unacceptable that the contract signed with Spanish operators Autobuses de Leon is yet to be published.

Reiterating the opposition’s call for the publication of the contract Portelli asked “Why does Joe Mizzi insist on not publishing the contract? Does the contract include anything which he is concealing from the public? Whose interests in the minister defending?”

Expressing the PN’s support to the striking bus drivers, Portelli repeated the opposition’s commitment to “defend the interests of drivers and commuters.”