I would like to refer to the letter from Carmel Camilleri of Paola (TMID, 30 May) entitled Millions of liri (TMID,30 May) wherein he stood up for letters issued by Labour local councils threatening people with imprisonment if they fail to pay their traffic fines. He comments that from my criticism to this type of letter, he could understand why the government is owed so many millions of liri.

I have failed to understand whether Mr Camilleri prefers that Labour councils should continue to threaten people with jail for parking in prohibited places, when imprisonment for such offences does not exist, or else whether he himself would like to see people go to prison for not paying traffic fines.

The letter Dr Luciano Busuttil issued on behalf of Labour local councils was incorrect. Local councils, whether they have a PN or MLP majority, are authorities and they are bound to follow the law and work within the law.

The Labour local councils involved in this scandal have failed to do the right thing: apologise to the public for issuing these unfounded threats. Neither has the Labour Party distanced itself from these letters, sent, after all, by a Labour official.

I can only conclude that these tactics have the blessings of the MLP.

Dr Malcolm Mifsud

President

College of Councillors - Nationalist Party