What happens abroad at major events is ‘no excuse’, says transport minister

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said that what happens at major events outside of Malta in terms of public transport challenges is “no excuse,” and that the government must roll up its sleeves and work harder to improve the service at future events.

Borg was responding to questions by The Malta Independent after controversy erupted on social media when reports came in that people had to wait for up to three hours to get on a bus after the Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture opening ceremony last Saturday.

Roughly 110,000 were reported to have attended. Many of those people chose to use the public transport service after the show, leading to major queues and disruptions.

Many pointed fingers at Transport Malta for failing to pre-empt the massive number of people looking to use the service after the show, saying that as usual the service was badly organised.

Others were quick to defend it by saying that at any major event in Europe, such as football games and music concerts, it is always very difficult to use public transport afterwards and people must plan ahead for this.

There were also those who complained that the service was adequate, but that people in Malta do not how to queue, making the situation more stressful than it needed to be.

Asked whether the service could have been better organised, or whether it was something to be expected, Borg said:

“I think the government, and more so the artists, showed how as a people we can organise events for the masses. Since there was a disproportionate number of people who do not normally use public transport, the service was put under major pressure.

“The fact that this happens outside of the country is no excuse. We must work so that on other similar occasions, and this year there will definitely be others, we will continue to improve the service.”

The Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture opening event took place last Saturday evening. The main spectacles were put on by various local and foreign theatre, choreography, animation and lighting companies.

There were four main shows taking place in St George’s Square, Castille Square, Tritons Square and St John’s Square.

Despite the controversy surrounding the public transport service, the event was praised overall for the effort put in by the artistic community.

Many historical buildings were have also been restored to celebrate Valletta’s year of culture, such as the façade of St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Manoel Theatre, Palazzo Ferreira and Palazzo Verdelin.