Fresh appeal made for horses shelter in Valletta

The Animal Rights Coalition has renewed its call for the installation of shelters for karozzini horses in  Valletta.

Coalition representative Myriam Kirmond said that more than 4,000 people had signed a petition calling for the provision of shelters and water for the horses because of the summer heat.

“The authorities keep saying the shelters will be installed within a few months, but the time never arrives,” Ms Kirmond said at a press conference outside the Palace. 

She said the coalition was proposing low-cost shelters. Transport Malta, she said, had proposed shelters that cost   €20,000 each. The coalition had criticised the proposed shelters, which would still allow the sun to filter between the strips of wood they will be made of.

In February Transport Malta issued draft regulations for horse-drawn carriages and cabs that oblige operators to maintain and clean any shelters for the horses.

However no agreement was reached with the karozzini operators  on the financing of the shelters.

Both sides agreed that cab operators would maintain the shelters. However, no agreement was reached on how much money each cab operator will fork out to put up the shelters.

Transport Malta had proposed shelters in three spots on the periphery of Valletta since horses are no longer allowed in the heart of Valletta.