Spat over four missing benches

The Nationalist Party expressed regret that four benches removed from the Granaries for the Independence celebrations last September have not been restored.

The Floriana local council has accused the party of being arrogant for not returning the benches in spite of repeated calls.

In a letter to the council, the PN noted that, while assuming full responsibility for the shortcoming, it had been asking its contractor to reinstate the benches since October. It said it would get the contractor to return the benches as soon as possible. The council accused the party of repeatedly ignoring it, adding that this was unbecoming of an organisation that should behave in an exemplary manner.

Such an incident, it said, justified the conditions it imposed on those who organised activities on the Granaries. The pity was that such conditions could not be imposed on political parties, which were, according to law, free to hold their events without even seeking the council's permit. The council said it would continue to insist that organisers paid for the damage they caused and that they showed a modicum of respect to the community that hosted them.