Editorial

One best leads by example, especially if one happens to be a representative of the people. Alas, that does not seem to be happening in the Valletta traffic entry and parking system that comes into force tomorrow.

There has been general agreement that something had to be done to control the traffic flow into the capital and the multitude of vehicles that could be seen parked there day in, day out during weekdays. This parking problem was exacerbated when precious parking space was taken over by "reserved" lots, a good many of them for "official" government cars. The result was parking on pavements, at times blocking entrance/exits to private residences. Not to mention the damage that such practice caused, even to national monuments.

Some statistics should demonstrate the extent of the problem. A staggering 34,500 people employed in Valletta and Floriana use their own cars to go to work and over 20,300 vehicles drive into the city daily. As a result, the 3,000 or so parking spaces in Valletta are occupied by 8 a.m. and remain so until 5 p.m. An estimated 110,000 trips are made to the capital daily during the rush hours. Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett said last August that about 950 parking spaces would no longer be made available in Valletta and Floriana once the park and ride system was launched.

The park and ride system seems to be working well and there was a general feeling that the Valletta traffic entry system would be just as successful provided business is not adversely affected.

One augurs all will be well, but announcements made so far, and requests conveyed in Parliament, risk leading to a situation where public cooperation may not be as widespread as it should. And for good reason too.

Given that the new Valletta traffic management system has been so long in coming, the least one would have expected was that, once launched, all measures would have been well thought out and planned to the minutest detail. It does not seem to have been the case: Roads were blocked off - to make them pedestrianised areas, which is a good thing - with residents complaining they had not been informed in advance; the list of those exempt from the new system could get longer and a decision on whether reserved parking for government vehicles would remain has yet to be announced.

The Valletta local council must insist that the powers that be, and that includes the council itself, have to lead by example. Which means there should be no reserved parking for government vehicles, and that includes ministerial cars. After all, ministers have drivers and so they can be dropped off at their office and collected when they need to move about.

This applies too to the Prime Minister, the Archbishop, the Gozo Bishop, the Chief Justice, the Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary secretaries and visiting foreign dignitaries, although in this last case special arrangements can and should be made, especially for security reasons.

The President's car is usually parked inside the Palace and, therefore, there should be no problems here.

Why should members of Parliament be exempt too? The House usually meets after 6 p.m. and MPs' reserved parking can, therefore, be retained.

The request by MEPs, former MPs and parliamentary staff to be exempt from the parking scheme should be immediately turned down. Indeed, the Speaker of the House ought to have refused to convey such requests. On the contrary, Mr Speaker should have called on the people's representatives to set an example.