The Infrastructure, Transport and Communications Ministry in a statement said that it will not let itself be subjected to threats by the Public Transport Association.

The ministry referred to comments made by ATP President Victor Spiteri, as reported in other media, who said that he will order industrial action in the transport sector that will paralyse the country if the government does not withdraw its plan to liberalise the hearses market.

The government, it said, believed that monopolies and excessive control in the economy should be implemented only in sectors where an open market would not be in the interest of consumers.

It added that the government has a duty to protect the interests of public transport users or potential users rather than operators and that a thorough reform in public transport is necessary. The quality of service provided in the different sectors of public transport does not meet the reasonable expectations of the general public, the ministry said.

No operator who benefited from a restricted market has the right to veto initiatives that are focused on the interests of public transport users and prospective ones.