Arriva Girl apologises for calling minister a ‘fucking wanker’

The third-year theatre student who heckled transport minister Austin Gatt over his handling of the Arriva bus service has apologized in an open letter published on university student newspaper insiteronline.com.

Nicolà Abela Garrett, 20, repeatedly called on Gatt telling him he should be ashamed of himself over the dismal Arriva bus service, after it took her two hours to reach her destination and because students, were missing lectures because of the “ridiculous service”. When Gatt walked away without acknowledging her, Abela Garrett called him a “fucking wanker”.

In her open letter, Abela Garrett said her behaviour was uncalled for and apologised for her outburst.

“I’m an ambitious student who’d just like to get to lectures on time, without having to wait for an hour or more on a bus stop, as I have been doing for the past 4 months or so. I just want a bus system that runs on time and doesn’t give me a detour all around Malta before I get to my desired destination,” the university student said.

However, Abela Garrett made it a point to tell Gatt he should apologise to the Maltese bus commuters for “his disastrous attempt to reform the bus system and his selfish attitude towards the 130 complaints Arriva and TM have been receiving daily.”

“More than an apology, I would like to see some action.  Is it too much to ask for a bus that follows the given timetable? Is it too much to ask for a route that doesn’t require several interchanges and a detour of the island? If there are no buses available, could I have a lift in your Jag, Mr Minister?”

Abela Garrett also said that a complete stranger approached her after the incident, and “forced” her to give him her name. “He continued to say that I should be grateful for my stipend,” Abela Garrett said.