Transport liberalisation talks start

@ D Vella. Your forensic analysis about my political sympathies is incorrect. So is your reasoning. Unfortunately that is what Maltese mentality is all about re politics. You just can't be born eg an MLP supporter and die an MLP supporter. It is wrong to say that your party is right in everything and the opposing party is wrong in everything. In my planet, news come fast and are there for everyone to read. But how many read them? Some people just listen and beleive what their party tells them. Others (like me) listen to what both parties say, reason things out, find some substance from other sources, and then make our judgement. It is common knowledge, (except for you) that it was JM who lobbied the EU to make pressure on Malta to revise the registration tax. It has nothing to do with the environment as you suggested. It is an unjust tax and not in compliance with EU rules. Especially second hand vehicles. You just can't pay a registration tax in the UK and then pay again the same registration tax in Malta. It is also illegal to pay 18% VAT over and above another Tax.

I. Abela . . . you really need to get a life! Joseph was happily sitting on the fence and mouthing inanities whilst the so-called industrial action was on. As far as the registration tax is concerned, you must be the one residing on another planet because this government AND preceding administrations have been considering the removal ever since Joseph was still learning to walk! The economic climate did not permit it at the time environmental obligations have now mandated its replacement in favour of emissions tax.
Talk of dictatorship is rich coming from a someone with obvious labour sympathies! Just in case news on your home planet is a bit slow, the maltese people want all monopolies in public transport to end and have expressed themselves repeatedly. This is called DEMOCRACY, not that anyone of your political leanings would know anything about that! Previous discussions with transport operators repeatedly proved fruitless due to their outrageous demands, insistence on unreasonable conditions and their persistent ignoring of the public's needs. Minister Gatt has finally decided to do what the people have long wanted! There is no scope for discussion with people who don't want to change!

@ Ian Sammut Dacoutros. Are you being serious when you say that it wasn't Joseph Muscat who insisted on the unjust registration tax in Malta? If that's so, i guess you came from a planet very far away in the cosmos. And you dare tell others to grow up?

@ Mario E. Grech. The meetings suggested by government are not consultation meetings but briefing meetings. That makes all the difference. Joseph Muscat is asking the government to hold discussions with concerned parties before committing to a final decision. The government is doing the opposite. It is first making the final decisions, then meet the parties concerned to brief them on what has been decided. That makes a whole lot of difference my friend. That is not true democracy. That is more like Dictatorship (of course with a 5 Year limit not like eg Cuba, but it is still a dictatorship).

Transport is fundamental to a thriving economy. May talks lead to an efficient and effective transport system that will not only reduce the volume of traffic on our congested roads but will serve as an effective link to all communities. Good Luck.

I don't beleive D. Attard is so naive. I want to tell Dr Gatt to keep it up. 90% of the Maltese are behind him in this issue. Following the transport strike Dr. Gatt is in a much stronger position to negotiate the way forward to full liberalisation of this sector.

@D Attard - Thank the Lord for Joe Muscat. It is thanks to him right that we are getting somewhere on the public transport sector. Oh PLEASE GROW UP!!!!

Well done to Dr. Gatt, he is the only man who had the guts to stick up to these thugs and then continue to push forward. I only hope that it goes all the way now.

I finally see Dr. Muscats plan he came back to Malta saying that it was thanks to him we are getting a reform in the registration of cars too - is he a bummer? - bumming the praise of other peoples' good work and ideas to somehow take the political credit!!!

I shudder at the thought of him having the possibility even of becoming our next Prime Minister!!!

D Attard, behave! The Minister had already set meetings with these groups before the strike was called, and was always ready to meet them once the strikes were lifted. Joe Muscat's suggestion was always agreeable to all - once no jungle strikes were being held.

So now the Minister is happily holding discussions...the very thing Dr Joseph Muscat told both sides to do in the first place...

Mr Gatt was a deal signed by both parties and approved by a judge? If not. That should have been done. Not that the Transit Federation has a leg to stand on. But the supporters of the opposition, think they do. A court approved agreement, would have taken this away from the supporters of the opposition. Although I was and still is against any negotiations, once the Nation was victimized by criminal activities. I don't mean illegally parked vechiles. The beatings and the attacks on Castille and so on.