Staff shortage leads to traffic sitting postponements

Traffic court cases scheduled to be held yesterday were postponed for a third time after Magistrate Anthony Vella put off the sitting because of "administrative shortages".

Some 70 cases were postponed yesterday. Two similar sittings were postponed last week and the week before for similar reasons.

Traffic sittings are scheduled to be held weekly, and these include the appeals from tribunals.

It is known that Magistrate Vella has been asking for a replacement of members of staff he had transferred from his office last year. But as this has not materialised, and staff are not willing to work overtime, the traffic sitting may well be postponed until the members of staff are replaced.

Magistrate Vella presides over the hearing of cases related to the Administrative Law Enforcement Police and Health and Safety cases, traffic, the Family Court, the Juvenile Court and the Zabbar district.

A spokesman for the administration of the law courts said movements of staff at the law courts can only be approved by the Chief Justice. A call for applications for messengers was recently made but the number recruited was far less than the number required.

The issue of the shortage of staff in Magistrate Vella's chambers was being actively considered.