This week was quite interesting.We started off with the ongoing debate on public transport in Malta; the addressing of the transport system that changed people’s lives – in the wrong way

In my districts I have been given many examples of how people’s lives were disturbed by the new system. We should be talking about the new buses, less fumes on the road, the nicer drivers, the no horns used – and all these are facts that we choose to ignore, as the counter-effects overshadow the good points.

I had Gżira residents up in arms, saying that practically all services, such as a circular bus, were taken off from the locality. Many PQs later, one got some reprieve and most routes were re-introduced.

The Sliema circular bus, after long years of existence, was taken off without consultation, and without being replaced. This circular bus was introduced by the Sliema council, and paid for by the Sliema council, from my time as mayor of the locality. Many Sliema residents feel disgusted that this service was stopped, and I concur with them fully. The nature of Sliema, with its steep roads, has made some people prisoners in their own home. I call for its immediate reinstatement.

It is only thanks to gentle drivers that half way up Manwel Dimech Street, near the police station, people can go off the bus, as no bus stop exists there.

Many people from other parts of my electoral districts, such as the Ta’ Ġiorni area, San Ġwann and Kappara, have complained that they had to wait almost an hour to catch a bus. Swatar residents have also informed me that they find it so hard to catch a bus.

It has been said that there are bus stops at Dingli Cliffs, but none in Taż-Żwejt in San Ġwann. It’s in San Ġwann that residents live, and it is San Ġwann residents who want to have proper bus stops and where they have protection from cars splashing water all over them.

As you read today’s article, we will be in Parliament debating public transport. As MPs, we are the last ones in this land to debate the issue and, as we go into the fourth update of the service a mere five months after the launch of the new system, I do hope it is the last of such changes, so that finally we can all settle in and use the buses better and more often.

It will be, probably, a long day at the office, and we all await the various contributions by MPs and the final outcome of the vote on an Opposition motion against Minister Austin Gatt.

Being critical of the system does not mean that I am throwing mud at anyone. I leave the profession of mudslinging to others who have become experts in it, and who ultimately will only harm themselves.

Being critical means voicing the opinion of people you represent, and making public their woes and worries. I do so in order to improve, and not disrupt, their lives. One should never shoot the messenger.

This week we also had the Public Accounts Committee start going through the witnesses as part of its process to investigate the Delimara power station extension contract. This is another situation where unconfirmed and unsubstantiated allegations have been made. There is a rather long list of witnesses who will be giving their side of the story in what should take hours of fishing expeditions. How easy it is to smear people.

All this is taking place while the budget for 2012 is being drawn up and as Europe is embattled in its bid to provide reprieve to Greece. The referendum plan launched by Greece has cast doubts on the Greek government’s genuineness to pay back its debts.

Once again, it seems that this Nationalist government has weathered the economic storm. It will present its budget on 14 November, and this will lay down the roadmap Malta will follow in the year to come.

This week we also celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Maltese Parliament. On Wednesday, we held a commemorative ceremony in the Tapestry Chamber. I am proud to be the great grandson of the first speaker of the House of Representatives, a fourth generation politician whose service is probably the envy of others.

Robert Arrigo is a parliamentary assistant in the Finance Ministry