The public transport system in Malta is broken. Who is going to fix it?

In virtually all countries, public transport companies are either publicly-run or privately-run. In the former case drivers are employees of the city, region or country. In the latter, a private company operates a pre-established route and has to fulfil rigorous targets set by the appointing administration. If it doesn't meet these targets, the company risks hefty fines and losing the contract to another operator.

Malta's system is a complicated mixture of the two, with the notable difference being that over the years it has accrued all the disadvantages of both systems without benefiting from either of the advantages.

The Public Transport Authority is, in all but name, a private company. The main difference is that this company is always awarded the contract irrespective of whether targets have been met or not.

Although several bus drivers conduct themselves with decorum and have a strong professional conscience, the system makes it such that such behaviour isn't rewarded, as the new contract will be issued once again irrespective of how drivers have behaved, whether ridership continued to dwindle, whether new innovative measures or whether pre-set goals were achieved or not.

Why bother playing if you're always going to win?

This gives bus-drivers (and thus the Public Transport Authority) free reign to do as they please without holding them accountable for their actions or choices. The outright elimination of competition and the automatic attribution of a contract to what is essentially a private company - without this contract being tied to performance, innovation, targets or conduct - is not only a suicidal move, but is a scandalous waste of tax-payers money.

Furthermore, any innovation has been steadfastly refused (directly or indirectly) by the aforementioned association. Tickets may be bought from the ticketing machine at the Valletta bus terminus, but these won't be accepted by the bus drivers. Cards may be bought to be swiped through the on board card-reader... but the card-reading machines are not actually used.

Any other changes such as changes in routes, roster or reorganisation have traditionally been met with contention or downright hostility.

We would like to see someone put an end to this. It's all well and good pontificating about how the transport system needs to be reformed, but we've heard that for decades now. The system cannot be reformed because it is inherently wrong. There is nothing to reform, but all to rebuild.
We've had words, let's have some action now.