NEWS | Wednesday, 18 March 2009

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Next in line – Gozo, Pembroke, Mgarr, Ghajn Tuffieha and Mosta

Matthew Vella
Hot on the heels of the installation of eight new speed cameras in the past month, local councils are calling for more speed cameras in their main thoroughfares.
Roads minister Austin Gatt told parliament that the transport authority (ADT) was considering applications for speed cameras from the Gozo joint committee, another one from the Sliema joint committee, and also from the Mosta joint committee.
The speed cameras are for Mgarr Road in Ghajnsielem, Sir William Harding street in Pembroke, Mosta Road and Ghajn Tuffieha Road in Mgarr, and Triq il-Qalbiena Mostin in Mosta.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Transport Minister Austin Gatt claimed they are “satisfied” with the method adopted by Joe Fenech Conti to avoid a conflict of interest in his public and private functions.
Fenech Conti is chairman of Roads Network Ltd, the government company that gives the green light for the installation of speed cameras. He is also the CEO of Datatrak Holdings, the sole private IT company that gets a cut from the fines collected by speed cameras.
The government said that applications for speed cameras will now be reviewed by a board on which he does not sit.
Although minister Gatt claimed the conflict of interest case stemmed from “the antipathy in which speed cameras are held”, Datatrak makes hundreds of thousands of euros as the sole processor of fines from speed cameras and wardens’ hand-held devices.
Speed cameras are a big source of finance for local councils, but also the private companies that service them, as well as the ADT. Guard & Warden and Datatrak received €1.15 million between 2006-2008 from a total of €2 million in speeding fines paid by motorists on just four camera locations: the Mriehel bypass, Mdina road in Zebbug, Burmarrad road, and Xemxija Hill. Guard & Warden, which installs and services the cameras, was paid €851,850 (43% of total revenue); while Datatrak, which issues the fines, was paid €299,415 (15%).
Another €279,840 (14%) was paid to the Malta Transport Authority; while the local councils from the Central and the Mosta joint committees, bagged €560,999 (28%).
The most recent cameras were installed on the Birkirkara regional road, Santa Venera tunnels, Imdina Road, and Tal-Barrani Road in Zejtun.
While ministers in parliament are required to answer questions on speed camera applications by MPs, the ADT’s policy is to refuse similar requests from the press. The ADT claims “it is in the interest of drivers’ and pedestrian safety that it pre-announces the locations of speed cameras.”

mvella@mediatoday.com.mt

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