Traffic enforcement must be sensitive to the realities of Malta's limited infrastructure, according to the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - the GRTU.

While traffic regulations must be respected to ensure citizens' safety, for people working on the road, parking well is many times impossible.

"The enforcement system must be built to cater for our realities on the road and not take advantage from inherent difficulties," GRTU president Paul Abela told a meeting to discuss the wardens' system.

Haphazardly-parked delivery vans and vehicles are often in the target of law enforcement officers, amid complaints by drivers that they were causing traffic obstructions.

Following GRTU’s call for a revision of the local enforcement system an urgent meeting was held earlier this week with Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Buontempo, among other officials.

Mr Abela explained that it was important to keep up the momentum and tackle the numerous issues at micro level as these are affecting the business community.

The truth is that the warden system has made a bad name for itself

“An overhaul of the system is required. The truth is that the warden system has made a bad name for itself and we need to depart from the negative image associated with wardens. Having an enforcement system that is intended to generate revenue is wrong from the start. Our enforcement system must be aimed at giving a valuable service to the community and not to find opportunities to castigate.”

Mr Buontempo said he believes enforcement is an essential tool to maintain order and that the local enforcement system reform had started and was still underway.

He agreed to set-up a high-level working group between key government officials and the GRTU to discuss areas that needed to be improved.

GRTU has also started discussions with Transport Malta in order to address a number of issues that fall within their remit. The first meeting of the working group will be held in mid-September.