[WATCH] Sliema council calls on authorities to enforce the law

Sliema local council flag continuous illegalities • Video by Ray Attard

Sliema Mayor Anthony Chircop has called on the authorities to enforce the law regarding “continuous illegalities” in his constituency, by touts, hawkers and beggars.

Addressing a press conference beneath a dilapidated billboard near the Sliema Ferries – one he said is subject to a MEPA enforcement notice – the mayor and councillors explained that they had informed the authorities of the breaches and requested action be taken on numerous occasions, but these complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

Sources of regular complaints are hawkers, food stalls and tour touts along the seafront. “We are not told which of these are licenced or not and besides, we have no power to enforce, we can only report.”

Timeshare touts have decreased, only to be replaced by others selling tours, he added.

Chircop brought the example of the Balluta promenade which, he said, now has vendors selling anything from “imported rubbish”, tours to fruit and veg along it. The hawkers use hand carts, vans, even public benches to sell their wares. He recalled one incident where a wheelchair-bound woman actually fell off the pavement while trying to manoeuvre around stalls.

He points out that it is the council’s policy not to approve applications for electricity connections to these vendors, however, “these have been made anyway, in spite of the fact that these applications must pass through the council.”