From MaltaMedia.com
Transport reform to include liberalisation
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 1, 2008 - 5:28:37 PM
Government will not be conditioned by threats from the Federation of Transport Operators when considering transport policies, minister Austin Gatt said today. He also said that reform was the only solution to improve service in some sectors.
This was said in reply to a statement by the same Federation accusing the government of lack of consultation on a draft policy proposal about transport which Dr Gatt forwarded to Cabinet last week which considers the liberalisation of some transport sectors.
In his statement, the minister stated that he is against monopoly when this is not absolutely necessary and when the free market dynamics are not in the interest of consumers. He also said that the federation’s claim that he had made any proposals about liberalising coaches and taxis was a total invention.
The Federation had warned Prime Minister Gonzi that Dr Gatt’s way of doing things should not be tolerated unless he wanted the country paralysed through a stoppage of public transport.
Gatt also commented on the quality of the service currently being offered by some sectors of the transport business did not meet the expectations of the public and hence reform was called for in these cases.
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