The government will be assisting Valletta Monti market hawkers to replace their stalls, using national and EU funds, Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona said today.

He confirmed on TVAM that both the daily as well as the Sunday markets will be moving to Ordinance Street in Valletta. He said there was enough space for all 75 licence holders of the daily market, who currently set up their stalls in Merchants’ Street and around part of the Palace.

However, with more than 200 permit holders for the Sunday market, the Ordinance Street market will spill-over ‘to another street’ which Dr Cardona did not specify. There is no space for hawkers working out of their vans. Another place is being sought for them. The Sunday market is currently set up at Horn Works Ditch outside Floriana.

Dr Cardona was not asked whether stalls would be set up between the ‘open theatre’ and the new Parliament House.

However a representative of the stall owners, Joe Zrinzo, said the market would be set up from near the former Rio Rita Bar (near Our Lady of Victory Church at the top of Ordinance Street) down to the corner with Strait Street, thus keeping the entrance to the embassy of the Order of St John (in St John’s Cavalier) free. There will not be stalls on Republic Street.

The minister confirmed that the move was agreed with the stall owners before the general election, with talks continuing after. He said the move was made necessary by the loss of income suffered by the stall owners in their current locations, and the fact that works had to be carried out on the Palace.

Each stall will feature the name and particulars of the stall owners.

Valletta Mayor Alexei Dingli said there had been no contact with the minister yet about the government’s plans. (See reactions to the government's plans in separate Times of Malta story.)

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