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It is no secret that many amongst us Maltese are concerned by the exorbitant amount of cars driven in Malta. However I wish to relate my experience since I have chosen to make a life for myself here.
My Maltese friends laughed at me when I refused to purchase a car. I could not understand why I would need one in a country the size of Malta. However it’s scarcely been a month since I’ve found a job and used public transport to travel to my place of work, and already I am desperate to own my own car. It is only fair that you know why. Twice within the last month, I’ve waited for bus 65 next to the church of Naxxar.
An ice-cream toting bus-driver of the vehicle with the aforementioned number has had the audacity to wave and smile at me whilst passing right in front of me and the other passengers without stopping, despite our frantic gesticulations. This occurred despite the fact that I waited on the stop for an hour and a half each time (14.30-16.00hrs) and as a result got to work late.
Tuesday 24 of October was the last straw on the proverbial camel’s back. On catching bus 65 from Sliema and by now not knowing quite what to expect as normal behaviour, I checked with the driver if the bus was headed for Naxxar, to which the latter groaned
bovinely in the affirmative. He did not pass by the Church along the usual route but went so far as to bypass Naxxar altogether, heading straight down to Iklin instead. When this was pointed out I was treated to a dressing-down from the bus driver à la maltaise, which I scarcely need to put into words. I wish to stress that our Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to whom you are answerable has constantly stressed the importance of efficiency in the services we Maltese provide, as it is the only way forward for our country in our competitive world.
If you share these concerns would you please at least take note of bus 65?
Vincent Gambini
Naxxar
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