A pleasant evening can often start on a bad note when one encounters one of the numerous car park attendants (who are colloquially known as ‘parkers’) who litter so many of Malta’s public parking spaces.

The issue at stake is not whether motorists should pay for parking. What is at stake is the fact that the behaviour of these car park attendants is, at best, questionable and abusive; they issue no VAT receipt, they rarely assist drivers and rarely maintain the site as they are required to do.

In one location, the parker simply sits next to a nearby kiosk and only appears when he expects to collect his ‘donation’.

Owing to their misplaced sense of entitlement, they are likely to harass motorists should they refuse to give a gratuity.

Readers who have the misfortune of encountering such individuals are likely to be familiar with this tone and attitude. The tacit approval of these individuals seems to be part of a growing trend which approves of all things loud, uneducated, uncouth and distasteful.

Transport Malta issues identification and clear guidelines on the functions of attendants. Signs are also in place to indicate that all gratuities are voluntary.

However, one wonders whether such individuals are actually needed and if their presence is anything but counterproductive.

With the exception of three very busy parking areas, these parkers perform no discernible function except that of antagonising motorists and sponging off the citizen and the State.

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