
Ralph Cassar, AD spokesperson on energy, industry and transport, said:”The demand for an efficient and reliable bus system is there. While it is obvious to all that the buses themselves are of a higher standard as regards emissions, it is equally obvious that the service is not meeting the demand for transport particularly during morning and evening rush hours.
“It also obvious that the persons in charge of coming up with the original bus schedule, which led to confusion, with the current operator continuously changing routes and schedules, were not up to the job – a law firm and a member of Gatt’s private secretariat can hardly be called transportation experts.
“AD hopes that the Government conducts itself in a transparent manner and focuses on cleaner air in our congested streets, more services from all parts of Malta and Gozo to highly populated and congested areas and more pedestrianisation and traffic free zones in our towns – this can only be achieved through a people-centred public transport system.
Finally, AD urges the Government to ensure that the employment of all Arriva employees is guaranteed. Workers should not suffer the consequences of bad political decisions and mismanagement.”
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It-tagħlima li ħadna mill-istorja tat-trasport pubbliku hija li d-domanda u l-ħtieġa ta’ sistema tajba ta’ trasport pubbliku ma kinitx qegħda tintlaħaq għaliex il-kuntratt oriġinali iktar kien interessat li jnaqqas in-nefqa milli jinvesti f’sistema ta’ trasport effiċjenti u ta’ min jorbot fuqha.
Ralph Cassar, kelliem ta’ AD dwar enerġija, industrija u trasport, qal:”Id-domanda għal sistema effiċjenti u li torbot fuqha hemm qegħda. Filwaqt li huwa ovvju li l-karozzi nfushom huma ta’ kalibru ogħla fir-rigward ta’ emmissjonijiet, huwa daqstant ovvju li s-servizz mhux qed jaqdi l-ħtiġijiet għat-trasport speċjalment fil-ħinijiet ta’ filgħodu u filgħaxija meta jkun hemm ħafna domanda.
“Huwa ovvju wkoll li l-persuni li kienu nkarigati li jippjanaw l-iskeda oriġinali tal-karozzi, li wasslet għal konfużjoni, u għal tibdil kontinwu fir-rotot u fl-iskedi tal-karozzi tal-linja, ma kinux kapaċi jagħmlu xogħolhom sewwa. Wara kollox, kumpanija ta’ avukati u membru tas-segretarjat privat ta’ Gatt ma jistgħux jissejħu esperti tat-trasport.
“AD tittama li l-Gvern jaġixxi b’mod trasparenti u jagħti importanza lill-arja nadifa fit-toroq Maltin mimlija karozzi, servizz aħjar mill-partijiet kollha ta’ Malta u Għawdex għal dawk il-postijiet l-aktar popolati u iffrekwentati u aktar żoni ħielsa mill-karozzi fl-ibliet u l-irħula tagħna – dan jista’ jsir biss jekk ikollna sistema ta’ trasport li tagħti prijorita` lin-nies.
Fl-aħħar, AD tappella lill-Gvern biex jiżgura li l-impieg tal-ħaddiema kollha tal-Arriva jkun garantit. Il-ħaddiema m’għandhomx ibatu l-konsegwenzi ta’ deċiżjonijiet politiċi ħżiena u tmexxija ħażina.”