James Debono
Siggiewi remains one of the few warden-free localities after the council approved a motion tabled by PN mayor Robert Musumeci to retain a system of employing wardens for just two hours a week – and only in the locality’s rural areas.
But Musumeci’s motion has been squarely opposed by his deputy mayor, PN councillor Karol Aquilina.
While two Labour councillors abstained, Musumeci rallied behind him the support of Labour councillor Jesmond Tanti and PN councillor Joe Sammut.
On the other hand Karol Aquilina was supported by PN councillor Mark Vassallo.
Before the vote was taken, an official from the regional joint committee of councils that administers the warden system for the north of Malta, Anthony Borg Cardona, advised the Siggiewi council to introduce a minimum of one hour of warden supervision every day.
He also insisted that there shouldn’t be any ‘no-go areas’ in Siggiewi for wardens.
Musumeci’s reaction to Cardona’s advice was to call for a vote on whether Siggiewi’s system for wardens should be retained.
Aquilina expressed his disagreement with Musumeci claiming that the present system led to a lack of discipline and security in the locality.
Immediately after the vote, Aquilina resigned as Siggiewi’s representative on the regional committee.
“Through this decision we will not be able to take action on reports filed by residents on illegal parking, dangerous driving and the dumping of waste,” Aquilina said after the vote.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Musumeci defended Siggiewi’s special status as a warden-free town from charges that the system rewards indiscipline. “The system has to be tailored according to the exigencies of each and every locality,” says Musumeci.
“Since Siggiewi is not a transitory town like Hamrun and Sliema but a destination in itself, surveillance by the police suffices for enforcing traffic rules and other regulations.”
Musumeci insisted he did not want to rely on income raised by wardens to augment the council’s revenue. “This is not the case here, and until I remain Mayor, it shall never be the case. Yet this has not prevented me from financing the resurfacing of 70 residential roads.”
As little as 20 wardens’ tickets were issued in Siggiewi in 2007, and just one person booked in the first three months of 2008. In 2007, four were booked for littering, seven for ignoring traffic signs and three for not updating their car licence. Only one person was booked for parking contraventions or for ignoring carriageway markings.
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