No Sunday open-air market
The Sunday open-air market outside Valletta would not operate this Sunday but would hopefully be back the following week, a spokesman for the hawker’s association said. “Cordial” talks were held yesterday between hawkers and the parliamentary...
The Sunday open-air market outside Valletta would not operate this Sunday but would hopefully be back the following week, a spokesman for the hawker’s association said.
“Cordial” talks were held yesterday between hawkers and the parliamentary secretariat responsible for small businesses. The meeting lasted well over six hours as both sides pored over documentation on 230 hawkers to see who was eligible for a place at the new location at the park-and-ride site in Blata l-Bajda.
The process, the government said, was “at an advanced stage” and should be completed by Monday.
Mark Zammit, secretary of Għaqda Bejjiegħa tal-Monti, said hopefully by the middle of next week the allocations of the 200 places available would be made and the market should be back in business the following Sunday. “Everyone understands there are financial implications for the hawkers if the market does not operate,” he said.
The Sunday monti was moved from its previous spot in St James Ditch, outside City Gate, as the site is being prepared for its new life as a bus terminus.
It was previously planned that the market would move to the park-and-ride area by February 13 but the stall owners did not turn up after a minority disagreed with the new location and wanted to be stationed either in Sarria Street, along St Anne Street or in Belt is-Sebħ, Floriana.
On Wednesday, Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi wrote to a representative of the objecting hawkers to tell them their choices were inadequate and that, should they keep objecting, their place would be given to someone else.
The park-and-ride area might not be the final location, however, because “the secretariat gave us its word that it would consider alternative places that could be suitable,” Mr Zammit said.