Claudio Cutajar, a supervisor responsible for certifying the roadworthiness of route buses at Malta Public Transport (MPT), voiced serious concerns in a judicial protest on Tuesday. He disclosed that the situation at MPT was so alarming that he would not allow his own son to use the buses due to safety issues. Cutajar alleged that he faced threats after refusing to certify buses as roadworthy when they were not.
Having joined MPT in July 2020 with extensive experience in the field, Cutajar highlighted a pivotal meeting led by the new director, Hector Astorga, where workers were warned about the company’s financial struggles due to bus damages and spare part demands. This resulted in skilled workers leaving, leaving the maintenance team understaffed and unable to keep up with necessary repairs.
Cutajar detailed instances where he was pressured to certify buses with significant damages, compromising passenger safety. Despite facing warnings and fabricated disciplinary actions, he remained steadfast in upholding safety standards.
Accusing MPT of fabricating accusations against him to justify dismissal, Cutajar emphasized that his actions were driven by a commitment to upholding traffic laws and ensuring passenger safety.
In response, Cutajar’s lawyers, Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta, urged MPT to stop spreading misinformation and hold the company accountable for damages caused. Cutajar’s protest sheds light on systemic issues within MPT, revealing compromised safety practices and mistreatment of employees.
Malta Public Transport Statement
In a public statement, Malta Public Transport categorically denies any allegations with regard to the safety of the bus fleet, ‘as recently raised in a judicial protest filed by Mr. Claudio Cutajar who is currently facing disciplinary charges for gross misconduct in relation to breach of procedures.’
‘The safety of our passengers, of our employees and of all road users, is our top priority, and we have never and will never compromise on this fundamental aspect. Our company has strict procedures in place, that are based on our extensive international experience, to ensure the safety and security of our buses and everyone on board. The company would never allow buses that are not roadworthy to be put on the road.’
‘It is unfortunate that while we strive to continuously improve the quality of our service through controls and procedures, we are encountering such resistance, which has in fact resulted in the disciplinary process against Mr Cutajar, for breach of our procedures.’
‘Malta Public Transport will be initiating legal action against Mr. Cutajar, since it is left with no choice but to defend its reputation against baseless allegations. We are confident that our records and evidence that will be presented in court, will prove that these allegations are false.’
‘We would like to assure the public that our quality control procedures are robust, and we are proud to be ISO certified on both quality and safety standards. Our buses undergo regular inspections and servicing every 35 days as part of our preventive maintenance policy, ensuring that they meet the necessary safety requirements amongst others. Furthermore, our buses are subject to independent roadworthiness tests and to additional inspections and checks done by the Authority for Transport in Malta.’
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Nationalist Party Statement
The Nationalist Party expressed concern over the supervisor’s claims, highlighting the substantial taxpayer subsidies to the bus service operator and stressing the paramount importance of passenger safety. Mark Anthony Sammut, shadow minister for transport, emphasized the urgent need for regulatory authorities to conduct thorough and frequent inspections of buses in response to these serious allegations.
Sammut underscored the government’s responsibility to ensure that contracted operators adhere to legal requirements and maintain the highest safety standards in bus operations, prioritizing the well-being of passengers who rely on public transportation services. The statement reaffirms the Nationalist Party’s commitment to holding the bus service operator accountable and advocating for stringent oversight to protect public safety.
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