Don’t panic, this is not an article about malpractice at the new hospital. The bypass I refer to above has nothing to do with medicine. I am referring to the long and meandering road that leads from Lija to Mater Dei and the university, one that can no longer really be called a bypass; in medical terms it would more aptly be termed a clogged artery. Those travelling this road every morning to work know what I mean. The less-than-a snail’s pace on this road has become a sad by-product of our government’s inability to understand how serious transport and mobility problems have become.

The problems of mobility and public transport have been completely ignored by Labour and PN for decades. On the other hand, Alternattiva Demokratika has always insisted that the miserable state of Malta’s public transport would one day reach crisis point; indeed, I am starting to believe that that day has already come. Maltese traffic has become unbearable, not only in peak hours but throughout most of the day. The traffic situation in the Inner Harbour Area is horrendous; those who do not need to drive through it should consider themselves fortunate.

The government’s response to this situation is complete silence. It is not completely surprising, particularly when you remind yourselves that these guys and gals are chauffeured around the islands, on our taxes. The fact that the minister who should be responsible is Jesmond Mugliett makes the solution to the problem ever more remote and hopeless. Recently, he denied (after my accusation) that our public transport was of Third World standard. How on earth would he know? When was the last time he boarded a bus? Jesmond is not the only minister in denial. On a recent TV programme I confronted Tonio Fenech with the fact that the last budget makes no mention of public transport or mobility. His response would have been risible hadn’t it been so pathetic. He said that public transport was being taken care because, and read this slowly, “We are building new roads.” If Labour is in government next year, there will be a changing of the guard, from Jesmond to Joe Debono Grech. Wow!

Many of those who highlight the problems of mobility and public transport generally attribute the neglect of both government and Opposition to a lack of awareness or competence. I believe that such analysis is politically naïve. Of course one can blame it all on incompetence and insensitivity, but that is just a corner of the bigger picture. The stasis in reforming public transport is mainly the result of both Labour and PN’s decades-long defence of the vested interests not only of the drivers, but also of two other groups who cash in on the paralysis. Let me amplify.

Due to the lack of a proper functioning public transport system Malta has become ever more dependant on the use of private transport (i.e. cars) and the consequent expansion of the road network – already one of the densest in the world. Cars need to be imported by car agents (the first group with vested interests), and roads need to be built by contractors (the second group). If you take a moment to think, you will realise that a good number of leading contractors have become car importers, and vice versa. Coincidence? Perhaps, but unlikely. What may appear to be two interest groups is in actual fact two groups with related interests i.e. the chronic dependence on the private vehicle and the need to build more and more roads. Labour sometimes calls them “friends of friends” – if you take another moment to think again, you will realise that they are also the friends of Labour.

The reason we do not (and will not) have serious reform in public transport has got little to do with the lack of financial resources, vision or competence. It is about the defence of these two related groups who, even Joe Saliba now admits, finance our political adversaries. In the process we worsen our trade deficit, mutilate our environment and poison our air. Those of you reading this who think that my argument is a conspiracy theory should be reminded that the board of directors of the largest car importing company in Malta was chaired for 10 years by the man who told us to judge him not on what he says, but on what he does. We sure will, Dr Gonzi.

Edward Fenech is spokesperson for Finance and the Economy of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party