Complaints against wardens - and local tribunals

I read with interest letters in your March 27 edition by a lady from Balzan and another reader from Birkirkara, both complaining about arrogance and unfair treatment by wardens and local tribunals.

I also read Dr Ian Micallef's reply to the Balzan lady's complaint and will first comment on this. I find it useless to complain through official channels since all you get is a dry reply and normally nothing much happens!

What Dr Micallef should really look into is why are there so many complaints. He must say to himself that they cannot all be unjustified.

Why, when you walk into the tribunal room, do you get the impression that your fate has already been sealed? Why do you observe the secretaries already clicking in the commands into their software even before the Commissioner for Justice has expressed his decision?

It is useless for Dr Micallef to tell us to complain through official channels - I did. All I got was a brief note acknowledging my complaint and that it will be dealt with in my tribunal hearing!

The reader from Birkirkara remarked about what he felt to be unjust treatment by the Birkirkara (and adjoining localities) tribunal commissioner regarding seatbelt regulations. Likewise he felt his fate was sealed before he even proved his case! I cannot but sympathise with him.

I tried to explain my case to the Commissioner for Justice but he took exception to my pointing out that the warden was not telling the truth during her statement of case. The reply was that I was in no position to say such things about her. At that point my fate was sealed.

I can only tell Dr Micallef, and the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the warden system, that there will be a feeling of injustice until such time they revise the entire system. As long as the wardens and the whole system depend on the amount of fines issued to finance themselves, there cannot be justice. They simply need to generate the funds to maintain their salaries!

So Dr Micallef, all I can say is:

1. You may carry on issuing your notepapers and fine us, but remember there is a piece of paper that comes along once every three years and another more important one every five years and we should use these to tell you what we think of it all!

2. People should keep on complaining publicly, through the Ombudsman and if necessary with the European Commission in Brussels (if need be let us complain to our MEPs).

3. People should keep on helping each other out by communicating personally and through the media, especially about 'traps' or hidden wardens so that we cut off their supply line!