New speed cameras just a tax - Muscat

The new speed cameras are a form of hidden tax intended to make good for the government's inefficiency, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday, adding his weight to the opposition against the devices.

The Labour Party was totally in favour of road safety but it was ridiculous to set the speed cameras at a limit lower than the national limit which now stood at 80km/hr, he said.

Speaking during a political activity in Kalkara, Dr Muscat referred to the eight cameras installed this week all over the island as a new tax.

The cameras, installed this week on the Birkirkara bypass, Sta Venera tunnel exits, Mdina Road in Qormi and Tal-Barrani Road in Żejtun, have a speed limit of just 60 kilometres per hour. They have drawn a hostile reaction from some and were even described as useless by two prominent road experts.

Dr Muscat said people should only be fined if they go past the 80-kilometre mark or else the government should lower the speed limit to 60 in line with the cameras.

Dr Muscat also spoke about illegal immigration, pointing out that the number of arrivals this year so far already amounted to 22 per cent of arrivals in 2008.

He referred to recent comments by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in Parliament when reacting to Labour's proposal to discuss immigration with urgency. He said the Prime Minister had played down the urgency of the debate saying there was no crisis, adding that he did not expect such a statement from Dr Gonzi.

On this point, in fact, he accused the Prime Minister of being out of touch with the people's feelings.

"I will not accept any institutional omertà from the government," Dr Muscat said, adding that Labour's parliamentary group will be organising its own discussion about the subject in Marsa with the mayors of Marsa, Birżebbuġa and MEP candidates.

Once again, Dr Muscat also referred to an internal PN meeting in January, in which, the Labour leader said yesterday, two ministers raised questions about the way funds were obtained for the proposals to extend the St John's Co-Cathedral museum.

He had already mentioned these two individuals last week and asked them to come forward with their information but yesterday, for the first time, he identified them as ministers, adding that if they remained silent he would name them.

He said the Prime Minister was also present at this meeting held on January 31.

The government later denied that any minister had stated that undue pressure had been brought to bear about the project and said Dr Muscat was not telling the truth.

The government pointed out that the selection process through which the project was awarded funds is regulated by EU laws and a public call for proposals.

"If Dr Muscat does not understand the selection process, then he should ask, instead of instilling doubts through unfounded allegations," the statement said.