Carmel Cacopardo

The discussion on TVM during the week between Finance Minister Clyde Caruana and his shadow, Adrian Delia, was quite revealing. Essentially, they agreed that drastic action is required to address traffic congestion. In not so many words Clyde Caruana emphasised that a mass transportation network can only be considered in the context of an agreement with the Opposition to cushion the political fallout from the inevitable measures required to curb private car use and ownership. Without a substantial reduction in private car use no mass transport proposal can achieve economic viability. The cost of owning a private car would have to increase.

In stark contrast, both the budget speech as well as the Minister for Transport, Chris Bonett, have been completely silent on the matter. This is possibly indicative that, as is natural, there are substantial differences of opinion in Cabinet on the matter.

Clyde Caruana actually used the term “punitive measures”. He did so because over the years his party in government has driven itself into a corner insisting that environmental charges and environmental taxes are a no-go area. He has now apparently realised the inevitable: that environmental charges and taxes are indispensable tools which governments can choose to utilise in order to encourage behavioural change. However, he is hesitant to proceed without Opposition support! He fears the consequences and is seeking an insurance which protects his government from the political fallout that would result from the tough but essential decisions which have been postponed for ages.

After years of squandering public funds in useless extensions of the road infrastructure network, the latest being the Msida flyover, Clyde Caruana’s declarations are quite significant. They signify a clear and unequivocal certification that government’s transport policy has failed to deliver big time. The investment in road infrastructure has made the traffic congestion even worse than it was as traffic has increased substantially.

In these columns I have repeatedly drawn attention to the admonition contained in the National Transport Master Plan applicable for 2015-25: “… it can be seen from experience that the approach to transport planning and policy in Malta has generally been more short-term (4-5 years) in nature. The lack of importance given to long-term planning means that a long-term integrated plan based on solid analysis with clear objectives and targets is lacking. This has resulted in the lack of strategic direction and the inherent inability to address difficult issues such as private vehicle restraint. There is a strong reluctance for Maltese society to change but this is in contrast with the need for communal actions to address the traffic problems existing now and in the future. This results in the Maltese traveller expecting that everyone else will change their travel habits so that they can continue to drive their car.”

The current traffic congestion problems could have been avoided or substantially reduced with timely action. Unfortunately, advice received was ignored. Instead, the Labour Party in government engaged in its favourite exercise of throwing money at problems, hoping for an automatic solution. It was assisted in its endeavours with value for money studies which glorified incompetence. According to the experts drawing up these studies, as a result of the road infrastructure investment we would gain quality time which was then being lost in traffic. These predictions did not materialise: time lost in traffic has actually increased substantially. Investments gone wrong have also contributed to the €11 billion national debt, with no positive results. Even the EU funds utilised could have been put to a more fruitful use.

The Minister for Finance, even at this stage, should start addressing the problem of traffic congestion. He can send a clear signal that he means business and is acting in good faith. Removal of petrol and diesel subsidies, the introduction of parking meters in primary urban areas and increasing the private car licensing costs would be suitable first steps until a strategy for mass transportation can be agreed upon! Even at this stage, reducing cars on the road is essential for our sanity.

It is positive the Clyde Caruana is acutely aware that the problem is car dependency and that before it is addressed, there will be no solution to our traffic problems. He should now move on to translate his awareness into concrete action. This is the only way that we can lead the way in the behavioural change required.

Carmel Cacopardo – Deputy Chairperson ADPD-The Green Party

published in The Malta Independent on Sunday: 2 November 2025