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Austin Gatt admits he 'never expected transport reform to be that difficult'
Transport minister Austin Gatt has admitted that he did not expect the transport reform to be ‘that difficult’ and reiterated his decision not to stand for re-election.
7 July 2011, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
Speaking on PBS's Dissett last night, transport minister Austin Gatt was grilled on Arriva’s take-over of the public transport sector, and admitted that although one expected the change-over to be difficult, “I never expected it to be this difficult.”
Gatt said that while matters were further complicated when 10% of its experienced drivers did not show up for work, posed a huge problem for Arriva as these drivers were experienced in driving the big ‘articulated’ buses.
This he said, led to Arriva to have to use smaller buses on important routes, however he said that what was unacceptable was that the Valletta terminus was still not functioning properly. “I have spoken to Arriva’s chief executive in the UK and pointed out the issues we deem that need to be addressed,” Austin Gatt said, adding that Arriva have given their word that things should be drastically improved by Friday.
Asked by presenter Reno Bugeja whether penalties could be imposed on the transport provider, Austin Gatt said that although this is not to be excluded, the issue here was that government wants the system to be efficient. “What interests me more than penalties is that the service is efficient and functioning well,” Gatt said.
While the system is working perfectly in Gozo, Austin Gatt said that officials from his ministry and others from Transport Malta are constantly monitoring the situation around the island are reporting three times a day on the progress along the 19 main network nodes.
Austin Gatt dismissed the suggestion that the UK imported bendy-buses were not adequate, stressing that these have refurbished Euro-4 Mercedes-Benz engines.
Asked by Reno Bugeja whether he considers the transport reform to be his political legacy or will, Austin Gatt stressed that he will only leave a “legacy or will to family... I have taken a decision and I have not changed it. I am not standing for re-election because I believe that I have spent enough time in politics. There is no going back."
