Warden system needs reform

The creation of a whole army of wardens has created a lot of frustrated locals and tourists. Whatever the government says, wardens have become tax collectors and a burden on our society. They have become a milking cow for the companies running the warden system.

Our country is creating a "big brother" society where the state and/or private entities have installed traffic cameras, security cameras, fine-collecting cameras and other watchdog gadgets so that every citizen can be tracked. It is pertinent to ask who controls these images and how citizens can be assured that there is no abuse.

In other countries, speed cameras are painted yellow and red (to be seen by drivers) but in Malta they are light grey so that drivers will have difficulty spotting them. This alone is proof that the objective is not to lower speed but to collect fines.

The islands have been so inundated with traffic signs that it has become impossible to drive sensibly and intelligently. Different speed limits have been established for similar roads. Can anyone explain why this has been done? As if Maltese drivers cannot control their own speed. Speed cameras cannot keep being installed after a single accident.

In society there is consensus that the warden system requires an urgent overhaul. In economic terms, the system has created an army of under-productive workers. How productive is a warden standing by a crane? That person could be assigned to more productive work, such as protecting our environment, helping tourists, ensuring no illegal building is carried out, collecting roaming dogs and cats and other assignments that can be part of our efforts to make Malta look like a real EU member state.

It is laughable to see wardens carry around 50 kilos of gadgets when our policemen, who have much greater responsibilities, walk around in a simple uniform. We have tried to copy a system that is used in big countries and cities, entailing big capital expenditure and contracts worth hundreds of thousands of liri, when some prudent persons carrying a whistle would have made Maltese roads safer.

The system has created a good revenue stream for lawyers who sit for whole days in tribunals but the system wastes many man hours that could be used more productively.

It cannot be overhauled by enacting new laws or through a working group composed of lawyers. The system requires a review by open minded persons able to take practical decisions to relieve citizens from living in Alcatraz.