is that an enormous cloud of grey lead-addled smoke emanating from your exhaust pipe or are you just pleased to see me?

The silver lining of the current dispute is that the Maltese seem to be clearly more open to different modes of public transport than they were just five or ten years ago. Indeed, Transport Minister Austin Gatt's speech on, amongst other things, the re-introduction of the tram system hasn't been met with a chorus of ridicule but with intelligent (and, in some cases, slightly bemusing) comments. Most of them seem to second the Minister's view- which is just as well as it is a pretty reasonable one an' all...

It is interesting to note that a good fifty years ago commuters had a wider selection of different modes of transport at their disposal - buses, trains and trams. We've only got the buses left now - and in several cases the very same ones we had back then.

The time has come for Malta to seriously consider a light rail, light metro or rapid tram system.

In other news Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar have asked to the public to back up the government position on the matter. No need to tell them that - they're clearly right behind you. Presumably the only way commuters would back the drivers over the Government is if they'd all suddenly start suffering from an acute case of mass Stockholm Syndrome...