The Nationalist Party (PN) has claimed that the government is beginning to adopt its proposals to address Malta's traffic congestion, following remarks by Transport Minister Chris Bonett in a recent interview. According to a statement released by the PN on Thursday, the party expressed satisfaction that the government has acknowledged the solutions it had previously put forward, even if belatedly.
The PN emphasized that while the government's recognition of its proposals is a positive step, it highlighted that the Labour administration has taken seven years to realize the value of these ideas. The party argued that during this period, traffic issues have worsened due to inadequate planning by the government.
In the interview with *The Sunday Times of Malta*, Minister Bonett discussed potential measures to tackle the traffic crisis, including incentives for motorists to surrender their driving licenses, the introduction of a mass transport system with dedicated lanes, and the expansion of maritime links as an alternative mode of transportation.
The PN pointed out that these proposals closely mirror those it had put forward in its electoral programs in both 2017 and 2022. The party had advocated for a rapid mass transport system with dedicated lanes, enhanced connectivity to maritime routes, incentives for car owners to relinquish their vehicles, and reduced licensing fees for those using their cars less frequently.
These recommendations, the PN said, were the result of extensive studies led by MP Toni Bezzina, who was the Opposition’s transport spokesperson at the time. The party expressed regret over the government's previous dismissals of its suggestions, accusing the administration of initially ridiculing its proposals only to adopt similar measures later.
The PN cited the case of free school transport, which it had first proposed eight years ago and was initially criticized by the government before being implemented.
However, the party warned that any traffic-related initiatives would be ineffective in the long term if the government does not overhaul Malta's economic model, which currently relies on population growth. Without such changes, the PN argued, the traffic problem would only resurface as population pressures continue to mount.
Concluding its statement, the PN called for a non-partisan approach to transport reform, urging the government to collaborate on long-term solutions. The party committed to participating actively in the consultation process that Minister Bonett has promised to initiate.
The statement was signed by the PN’s Transport spokesperson, Mark Anthony Sammut.
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