A blind man was denied access to a bus when he tried to board with his guide dog earlier today.

This incident came to light after Alternattiva Demokratika chairman and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola turned to Facebook and Twitter to express his concern over the matter, claiming that the two were refused entry by a public bus service driver on the grounds that the dog would mess up his bus (ihammigli t-truck).

Prof Cassola said that the driver mistreated the blind man by doing so, and the bus driver is evidently not familiar with Malta’s Constitution and that the Transport Minister should provide the driver with a copy of the law which states that there should be no discrimination of people on any grounds.

Guide dogs are specially trained to lead blind and visually impaired persons around obstacles.
Prof Cassola wrote that ‘these dogs are trained to behave in the most exemplary of ways and without them their owners cannot move about; the blind commuter was left standing on the stage.
‘The transport minister should provide such driver with a copy of the Maltese Constitution that says that there should be no discrimination of people on any grounds… including persons with a disability’.

In several countries, guide dogs are exempt from regulations against the presence of animals in places such as restaurants and public transportation.