UPDATED: Red tape amid the chaos, council clarifies position

(Adds clarification by Senglea Local Council)

While hundreds of drivers sweated in traffic jams over the past couple of days and the authorities sought ways to sort out the traffic chaos, Senglea local council protested to the Transport Authority over a sign put up to indicate the emergency boat service to Valletta.

The council wrote to the ADT complaining that the sign put up at the boarding place had been erected without its permission, it was too large and constituted an eyesore. It argued that a sign should have been put up on a noticeboard located two corners away.

The ADT's reply is not known, but the emergency service was stopped yesterday after the boatmen were threatened.

In a statement in reaction to this article, Senglea local council said this afternoon that it was not informed until noon of today that this was an emergency service offered by the ADT and communications received indicated it was as initiative of the local boatsmen organisation.

The council said it was not against such emergency service to residents and tourists, but against the way the sign was put up without any communication with the mayor and executive secretary. The council said it was not aware of any protest mentioned and never met to discuss this issue and neither gave any consent for such event.

The mayor and the deputy mayor are currently away from Malta with a delegation from the council which also includes the executive secretary. The secretary, however, this afternoon communicated directly with the ADT to clarify the situation. He expressed the council's support towards the ferry emergency service from Senglea.