Privileged breed

I read with some amusement D. Azzopardi's letter regarding the attitude of our so-called park attendants.

I say amusement, as this is a subject which should really be given some importance, and which, however, gets no attention at all. I won't bore your readers with the multitude of complaints these people generate.

I would, however, like to toss about some figures. This should be especially interesting to Valletta local council; it would be one way of generating enough income to pay for the wardens!

Consider this - I can think of at least 17 areas where drivers who come to Valletta park their cars. Every one of these areas is public land. These areas are all over Valletta and range from Hastings to St Elmo. The park attendants consider it their God-given right to decide where you park, when you park and even who can park. Other than that - and, of course, sticking their grubby paws out for cash - they do not contribute in any way to anything.

On average, these men are making between Lm35 to Lm55 a day each (this is a conservative estimate)... or, in other terms, as much as the highest paid government employee.

Put together, unless my calculations are really out, you are looking at a total of almost a quarter of a million Maltese liri being earned by people who are, at best, rank amateurs, and, at worst, a bunch of arrogant, insulting people who are giving problems to the long-suffering locals and tourists who, out of necessity, need to come to Valletta. Argue with them at your car's peril!

I think it is high time that they were regularised, and who better to do it than the Valletta council's wardens?