The government is proposing to exclude the private sector from the local enforcement system. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The private sector should continue managing the local traffic enforcement system as it has done since wardens were introduced 14 years ago, according to the main company providing such a service.

Kenneth De Martino, CEO of Guard & Warden Services, thinks this is the best way to achieve optimum efficiency.

His comments to The Sunday Times of Malta come in the wake of a White Paper published by the government earlier this month, in which it is proposing to cut out the private sector from the local enforcement system.

Guard & Warden Services manages around 80 per cent of local enforcement.

The government is suggesting setting up a centralised public unit that will manage the system.

This effectively means local wardens will no longer be employed by any of the three private companies.

Mr De Martino disagrees with the idea of moving the service, which was restructured in 2011, to the public sector.

“While I believe that the enforcement system needs to be reformed, I also believe the private sector has the potential to add value to the future of local enforcement,” he said when contacted.

“I certainly believe that while policy should be set by the central government rather than by the individual regions, the actual management should be left in the hands of the private sector, which should be made accountable for the level of service it offers.

“The role of the private sector is still being assessed and I think it is premature to suggest this reform would exclude the private sector in its entirety.”

He thinks wardens had a positive effect on local enforcement and this could be confirmed by the fact there was better law and order on Malta’s roads.

“We also have less abuse on a daily basis, which makes our roads safer,” he said.

Mr De Martino also rejected criticism that wardens were not educating motorists.

Wardens and private agencies do not make any commissions

“Wardens are obviously a threat to people who specifically want to break the law and a friend to law-abiding citizens,” he said.

He flatly denied that wardens received a cut of the fines they issued through commissions, insisting that this was a public misconception.

“Wardens and private agencies do not make any commissions or any other personal gain on contraventions and are not financially motivated in any way to increase the dishing out of fines,” he said.

Mr De Martino said he was not involved in the White Paper process but was open to discussing any changes that would be required.