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Gerald Fenech
The Chamber of Medium and Small Enterprises (GRTU) has added a new twist to the ongoing Valletta monti saga by proposing that the market be re-located to the lower part of Merchant’s Street, in line with the government’s own proposals on the issue.
This development has infuriated the hawkers’ representatives in Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM), with secretary general Gejtu Vella accusing the chamber of keeping a foot in either camp.
“I cannot take the GRTU seriously when it says one thing to the hawkers, and then goes over to the media and states something else,” a heated Vella declared at a press conference yesterday.
This latest development comes after a week of protests by the indignant hawkers, who have temporarily lost access to their allotted space in Merchants Street on account of the recently introduced Controlled Vehicle Access system.
The hawkers, who are supported in their stance by the UHM, are steadfastly refusing to accept the temporary re-location of their activity to St James Ditch, site of the Sunday market. On Thursday, the UHM, together with representatives from the hawkers, held a three-hour meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, but no conclusion was reached. In fact, on Friday the hawkers once again marched in protest through Merchant’s Street, holding up placards accusing the government of endangering their livelihood amidst a din of whistles and catcalls.
Saturday was also a day of long negotiations which however led nowhere, with Vella confirming that he had two long telephone conversations with the PM, to no avail.
Speaking to MaltaToday, Vella said that the union would continue taking the side of the hawkers as the whole issue depends on the existence and livelihood of 120 families. Describing the governemnt’s proposals as ‘hotchpotch’, Vella insisted that the site at St James Ditch was not acceptable for the hawkers as it would have a detrimental effect on their sales. He expressed little hope that the impasse could be resolved soon as both sides are entrenched in their respective positions. He also did not rule out further protests and also warned that sympathy strikes or actions may be called without notice.
From this perspective, GRTU’s entry to the fray has clearly vexed the hawkers and their representatives, who accuse the chamber of adding to the confusion already surrounding the issue. The GRTU had in fact championed the CVA system, adding that most of its members were reporting better sales due to the pedestrianisation of the capital city.
But this has been contradicted by several Valletta shop-owners, who claim to have seen their sales decrease since the advent of the new parking system. One particular outlet claims that its sales have halved since Merchant’s Street was pedestrianised. Most shopowners have also experienced a slump, but some are optimistic that there will be an eventual pickup in business once commuters grow accustomed to the situation.
In the meantime, the action escalated further when on Friday, the UHM presented a judicial protest on behalf of the hawkers against the government in the First Hall of the Civil Court. The protest states that the government should be held responsible for all damages incurred by the hawkers due to the fact that their livelihood and that of their families is endangered by the said government’s arbitrary decision to relocate the market to St James Ditch, albeit temporarily.
Worthy of note also is the fact that the Labour Party had to hurriedly cancel a press coverage at 11am on Friday, where it was due to meet the hawkers for the presentation of the judicial protest. General Workers’ Union officials also joined the march in a show of solidarity.
Government sources told Malta Today that they will not budge an inch from the original proposal to temporarily re-locate the hawkers to St James Ditch. Meanwhile, the hawkers’ own suggestion of Freedom Square as a venue for the monti has been described as a complete non-starter by government sources.
Another meeting between the UHM and the Prime Minister is scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm. |
