Shuttle service talks proceed as taxi drivers protest

An agreement on the proposed shuttle service for cruise liner tourists between Pinto Wharf and Valletta should be reached within the next few days despite strong opposition from the drivers of white taxis who organised a protest carcade yesterday.

Owners of shops on the way to the city are also against the introduction of the shuttle service.

The Malta Transport Authority is in talks over the service with the Public Transport Association and Viset Malta, the consortium that runs the cruise liner terminal.

The service will be up and running as soon as agreement is reached in the coming days, the Malta Transport Authority's chief executive officer, Mario Falzon, said.

He said they were forging ahead despite the petitions against the service presented to parliament by taxi drivers and shop owners.

Mr Falzon explained that the service would probably form part of the normal circular bus route around the city.

"We are discussing how we can make changes to the current circular route to include a bus stop outside Pinto Wharf which can pick up tourists coming off cruise liners," he said.

Mr Falzon echoed comments made recently by Viset chief executive Chris Falzon that there was space for everybody to work within this environment.

"Nobody has any divine right to monopolise the transport offered to cruise liner tourists, who should be given a choice," he insisted.

However, the taxi drivers don't agree and yesterday their association, White Taxi Licensed Amalgamated, organised a carcade in protest.

More than half of its 200 members took part in the peaceful action which left from Ta' Qali and ended at Castille, in Valletta where the association's chief executive, Alfred Pace, presented a petition to the Prime Minister.

A copy was also presented to the opposition and to Transport Minister Censu Galea.

Though the media did not get a copy, Mr Pace explained that the association was basically condemning the introduction of a bus service.

"If they go ahead with this proposal we will take any action we deem fit to prevent the shuttle service being set up - there is no place for such a service and it will only kill off our core business," he said.

When it was pointed out that drivers of white taxis were often accused of overcharging, Mr Pace said those who were ripped off should file a report.

Another petition, drawn up by the association's former secretary Elija Grixti and signed by more than 167 drivers of white taxis, was presented to MPs earlier this month highlighting their fear that the shuttle service would threaten their livelihood.