Transport Minister Chris Bonett and new Labour candidate Carlos Zarb underlined that Labour’s transport proposals are not simply electoral promises, but part of a long-term vision that has already started being implemented.

Speaking after Prime Minister Robert Abela outlined Labour’s transport and infrastructure plan, Minister Bonett said the measures form part of a serious, integrated strategy for the future of mobility in Malta.

He said the projects being carried out today are themselves a certificate of Government’s ability to deliver, making Labour credible when it presents new proposals.

Bonett described Malta in Motion as the long-term vision guiding this work. At its core, he said, is the creation of an integrated transport system where different modes of transport work together as one connected network.

This is why, he explained, Government is working on a stronger public transport network, investing in more park and ride areas, and expanding the fast ferry network. The next step, he said, is to go further with a new sea connection between Marsascala and Valletta.

According to Bonett, the aim is to offer a serious, long-term solution that can actually be implemented. He said this is a national investment being carried out with responsibility and with a clear vision for the years ahead.

“We are not only talking about the future,” he said, “we are building it, step by step, today.”

New Labour candidate Carlos Zarb also placed emphasis on the fact that Labour’s vision for transport is the result of a long period of consultation and planning.

He said the party’s approach is based on encouraging people to use alternative modes of transport through incentives, not by creating new financial burdens to force people to change how they commute.

Zarb referred to the regeneration of the Buġibba breakwater as a concrete example of delivery. He said the project gave new life to the locality and is widely appreciated by the community, describing it as another certificate of a Labour Government that delivers what it promises.

He also noted that Labour’s transport approach is holistic, not based on isolated projects. The fast ferry service, he said, is not being treated as a standalone service, but is being supported by other measures such as the circular bus route in Buġibba, making it easier for people to use the ferry without having to worry about parking.

Zarb said the central pillar behind all these investments remains a strong economy. Without it, he argued, such projects would not be possible.

He said that by continuing to invest in transport and infrastructure, Government is improving quality of life for families and young people while giving communities more practical and sustainable ways to move around.