Applications for licences for VRT stations ‘on hold’
James Zammit claims that Transport Malta is acting in breach of regulations.
Requests for new licences to operate VRT garages were on hold, Transport Malta told an applicant who has filed a judicial protest against it contesting the decision.
James Zammit, owner of J. Zammit Ltd, said he was holding the transport watchdog responsible for damages his business was suffering because of its refusal to issue the necessary documents.
In his judicial protest, Mr Zammit said he had applied for a licence to operate a VRT station on June 16, 2012. But in acknowledging the receipt of the application, Transport Malta said five days later that “...currently, Transport Malta is not in a position to further process your request since all VRT station operators’ licences are currently on hold”.
Through his lawyer, Pawlu Lia, Mr Zammit, who runs Ray Auto Dealer in Żebbuġ, quoted subsidiary legislation covering the operation of VRT stations and roadworthiness regulations and claimed that Transport Malta had acted in breach of these regulations.
This subsidiary legislation stipulates that the authority has to reply to an application within seven days of receipt. Moreover, it must inform the applicant of the period within which the application shall be processed and the available means of redress if the authority chooses to refuse the application.
The regulations also state that, in the absence of a response within the set time frame, “the authorisation shall be deemed to have been granted”.
On the basis of this, on July 3, Mr Zammit wrote to Transport Malta for the official licence to be issued so he could proceed with seeking clearance from the planning authority. But, in its reply, the authority reiterated that all applications were on hold. Mr Zammit complained that the refusal to issue the relevant documentation was costing him a lot of money because, legally speaking, he had already obtained the licence.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
17 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
David Farrugia
Sep 24th 2012, 23:28
As reported here, Transport Malta failed drastically so by law it has to issue a permit for this company in question. Any arguments against are baseless. Nobody is above the law even Transport Malta or ex-ADT .
Jacob Micallef
Sep 25th 2012, 23:25
According to your argument anyone can get a permit for a petrol station or pharmacy. mela dan xi hanut tal pastizzi ! If you don't know the law, don't judge.
Etienne Galea
Sep 24th 2012, 20:49
“...currently, Transport Malta is not in a position to further process your request since all VRT station operators’ licences are currently on hold” - this means that even those who are in operations are on hold as well or only those applying for a permit? Because if all are on hold, that means that no station is allowed to do a VRT! Sorry but I am missing something here! ANd if no VRT can be done, no road licenses can be issued.
Jacob Micallef
Sep 25th 2012, 23:20
For your information, pharmacy permits and petrol station permits are also limited and on hold. So why can't I buy a petrol station or a pharmacy ! Its not a matter of competition but a matter of more corruption. More V.R.T stations would lead to more junk cars passing the v.r.t test because transport malta would not be able to monitor all the stations .
john muscat
Sep 24th 2012, 17:37
I think there are enough VRT stations, seeing many signs of such stations while driving.
Mr Evan Camilleri
Sep 24th 2012, 18:01
so what??? competition rules means that anyone can open any business as long as one keeps with the basic requirements which are kept by all !! - this should apply ALWAYS
J. Debono
Sep 24th 2012, 19:46
@ Mr Evan Camilleri
There is no competition regarding VRT - they have to have the same equipment, they have to observe the same rules, and they all charge the same preset price.
Therefore you argument does not hold.
Mr Evan Camilleri
Sep 24th 2012, 20:35
@j.debono.... competition does not mean only price. it can mean service, customer care, etc. So because the price is fixed (maybe justifiable since it is an audit) then we do not allow more! Business is survival of the fittest!.... the customer will choose who is the fittest
Jessica Smith
Sep 25th 2012, 00:07
J. Debono it does hold water because anyone can open any legitimate business without hindrance from the authorities. There is free market competition and the authorities must issus as many licenses as there are applications in any business.
Alexander Hilton
Sep 25th 2012, 05:47
Mr. Muscat, you are free to think what you like in a free world. But so is Mr Zammit free to open any business he likes. It is not up to Transport Malta , TM merely has to administer the lawful application. End of story. Anything else is unacceptable. Furthermore for a car dealer with a reasonable turnover it could make perfect sense to have his own station, since it saves a lot of time. In addition in view of pending changes to a possible annual testing of older vehicles, there will be the requirement for additional stations.
john muscat
Sep 24th 2012, 17:35
There are more than enough VRT stations in Malta and Gozo noticing the signs while driving.
James Tyrrell
Sep 24th 2012, 13:47
I think it's crazy that any individual garage owner can be granted permission to issue vehicle roadworthiness certificates. Isn't there enough corruption going on without actually giving people a licence to print money which is what this is. All VRT centres should be operated by the Government.
Bill Khan
Sep 24th 2012, 16:46
@ James Tyrrell
That way we will simply be shifting the corruption centre over to the governement.
The government just wants revenue from the Road worthiness test fees. It really is not interested in the Road worthiness of the vehicles. Just the money coming in will do nicely. If we believed otherwise will indicate seriously that we have come to erroneously accept the government is there for the benfit of the genetral public. That is not a very healthy thinking.
James Tyrrell
Sep 24th 2012, 21:57
@Bill Khan. You have a point Bill. In England individual garages carry out what we call the MOT test and I have heard of certificates being sold down the local pub. Here in N. Ireland you can only get an MOT certificate from the various MOT centres around the country and they are very strictly controlled. You only have to look at some of the cars and lorries driving around Malta to see that the only way they could get a certificate is to buy one!
Jessica Smith
Sep 24th 2012, 12:20
TM is a disaster on all counts.
Does TM know that there is free market competition and it cannot limit the number of VRT stations?
This also applies to all sectors be it the public transport, pharmacies and everything else.
W Cassar
Sep 24th 2012, 16:42
The market is not so free in Malta.
C Borg
Sep 24th 2012, 18:07
If I'm not wrong, before introducing the VRT there has been a white paper whereby the maximum number of VRT stations was stated (40 if I remember). I guess it's something similar to petrol stations and taxis.
Please choose the reason of your report below: