'Don't let anyone interfere,' outgoing Transport Malta CEO tells staff
Kurt Farrugia has left his role as Transport Malta CEO amid a relationship clash with minister Chris Bonett.
Outgoing CEO Kurt Farrugia has urged Transport Malta employees not to let anyone interfere with the authority’s regulatory work.
“I wanted to leave you with one message: be proud of your work. Proud of the authority. Do not let anyone interfere in your professional work. Do not let anyone interfere in your regulatory and technical work,” Farrugia told Transport Malta employees in a farewell message.
“That is what I always protected over these two years. And for that, I have no regrets,” he said.
Under Farrugia, Transport Malta had resisted pressure from car importers to lift the suspension off Malta's largest cab company, WT Global. He did not specify in the note whether this was one of the interferences he was referring to.
Farrugia, long considered one of the government’s and Labour Party’s top backroom figures, was made Transport Malta CEO in summer 2024.
He has now moved to head Residency Malta amid a relationship clash with Sustainable Mobility Minister Chris Bonett.
Labour Party CEO Leonid McKay is taking over the authority, which is responsible for regulating and enforcing land, sea and air transport laws. Bonett’s choice for the role, Stephanie Bonello, will instead head Malta in Motion, the government's long-term transport plan.
Sources said the Office of the Prime Minister had feared Transport Malta would become an extension of the ministry had Bonello, who served as Bonett’s chief of staff, been made top dog at Transport Malta.
In his goodbye message, Farrugia urged staff to welcome McKay as they had done with him.
“I am convinced that his heart is in the right place and that he will continue the work we began together,” he said.
He also thanked employees and said he was proud to have been “one of you”.
Farrugia also pointed out that under his tenure, the public service recognised Transport Malta as an example of “Best Practice in Good Governance”, while the National Audit Office recognised Transport Malta as the entity that had made the most progress.
“This is apart from the other achievements that all of you accomplish every day through your work.”
“The achievements of these past two years were yours, and no one else’s,” he said.
“Do not let ANYONE belittle the service provided by this authority. Every single one of you within the authority, without exception,” he said.