The agreement signed 14 months ago between the government and Autobuses de Leon for the operation of the bus service was tabled in Parliament late last night.
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi had repeatedly put off publication of the agreement, despite initially promising it “within a few days”, claiming he had not wanted the Opposition to make bad use of it for its own ends.
The 15-year contract regulates Autobuses de Leon’s (ALESA) concession to operate Malta and Gozo scheduled bus services.
It provides the formula for a contribution from public funds when the operator’s income does not “cover the costs of the service, including a reasonable commercial margin”.
The formula factors in the public service compensation, a variable subsidy arising from modifications to the service and economic adjustments made as a result of external factors.
Bus routes and maximum fares are set out, subject to the first revision on January 1, 2016 and then at annual intervals.
Mr Mizzi also tabled a supplementary agreement, dated July 22, 2015, whereby the payment of the public service compensation was transferred onto the ministry from Transport Malta.
The first amendment to the contract, signed on October 14, 2015 and dealing mainly with fares and bus routes, was tabled as well.
On December 20, 2014, Transport Malta concluded the negotiations with Autobuses de Leon and the government awarded it the contract to operate Malta and Gozo scheduled bus services as from January 8, 2015.
Trafficking meeting behind closed doors
A meeting on immigration was held behind closed doors in Parliament yesterday.
The meeting was between the rapporteurs of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and the parliamentary sub-committee on immigration.
The Times of Malta is informed that it is standard practice to hold such meetings behind closed doors to enable a frank debate with lawmakers on the country’s compliance with the requirements of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Malta ratified this convention on May 1, 2008. It seeks to prevent trafficking in human beings, protect victims, prosecute traffickers and sets up an independent monitoring mechanism. This includes the group of independent and impartial rapporteurs to assess how well its provisions are put into practice.
GRETA published its first evaluation report on Malta in January 2013, noting the progress made by the Maltese authorities to develop the framework for combating trafficking in human beings, including the adoption of the first national action plan.
The report stated that 25 people were found to be victims of human trafficking between 2003 and 2011 in Malta, all of whom were foreign nationals trafficked for sexual exploitation. However, GRETA considered that these figures may not reflect the real situation.
According to a US State Department Report published last July, Malta was a source and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and a destination for women and men subjected to labour trafficking.
During an earlier meeting yesterday, Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela expressed the government’s commitment to fight human trafficking. He highlighted the efforts made by Malta for the protection of victims as reflected in the national action plan for 2015 and 2016.
The GRETA delegation will be meeting with various government entities and agencies involved in measures to address trafficking.