Alternattiva Demokratika has once again focused on the need to provide reliable, comprehensive and efficient mass transport options in Gozo and Malta.

AD Chairperson and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola welcomed that at long last the transport Minister is, it seems, moving on the process, which had been promised, started, stalled, forgotten and revived countless times in the past 22 years.

Prof Cassola said that public transport is an investment in the community and a public service and should not be looked at from a profit or money-making perspective. The more people use public transport the more the country gains from reduced pollution from traffic, reduced stress on the road infrastructure and the more scope and space for pedestrianisation in town centres is created.

Arnold Cassola also spoke of the need to introduce new forms of public transport from sea transport, to buses using clean fuels, to taxis and even in the long term trams and underground trains. “What we cannot understand is why the bus system proposed will be based on the Euro 3 standard when the highest and cleanest standard for diesel engines is Euro 5 moving on to Euro 6 in the next couple of years. Why is the Ministry going for a system using old technology? Why does Malta have to make do with vehicles that other countries are taking off the roads? The talk of raising standards amounts to little more than just talk when the choice of buses is again on those using an old technology. This is the right time to invest in a truly modern fleet of electric or gas buses, or at the very least Euro 5 buses.

The transport system in Gozo, which is pratically non-existent also needs serious reform if the government really wants to get the eco-Gozo concept going.”

“We are all for reform but the Ministry should also come to an agreement with those bus owners who were told to buy new buses, again Euro 3 buses, since they were given the impression that they will be able to recover the cost of the buses through years of service using these buses.”

AD MEP candidate Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer spoke of the work of the Greens in the European Parliament. She said that the Greens have always worked to improve the emission standards of veichles and to promote and help the mass transport sector. Developing European policies to provide this essential service to all citizens, including Maltese and Gozitans in the cleanest possible way will be a priority for an AD MEP, she concluded.

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