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10 years ago - The Times Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Transport strike: two mediation attempts fail Two attempts at mediation in the public transport dispute failed to break the stalemate yesterday as the public today faces the consequences of what many have defiWhat happened on... July 16
10 years ago - The Times Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Transport strike: two mediation attempts fail Two attempts at mediation in the public transport dispute failed to break the stalemate yesterday as the public today faces the consequences of what many have defined as anarchy on the roads for the third day running. Both sides stood their ground, with Transport Minister Austin Gatt pledging to resign if the government backtracked on its decision to liberalise the hearse sector. Several organisations and political parties have rallied behind the government’s stand and the decision to stand firm against the operators’ bullying tactics. The police began to make their first arrests in a bid to restore some calm on the streets and four minibus drivers were arraigned last night accused of attacking a van shuttling tourists. They were remanded in custody. The day started badly after the government’s emergency bus service was stopped at 7.30am, just 90 minutes after it started, because of incidents in which a van’s windscreen was smashed and people intimidated. A double-decker tourist bus was ambushed by striking operators who intimidated sightseers and forced them to get off the vehicle,... Read more