Our capital city, like any other, has to cater to the needs of the residents living there, people from other parts of Malta and Gozo, tourists, government and other interest groups. It is very natural for these different wants and needs to sometimes cross swords in a healthy public debate.
The relocation of the monti hawkers to Ordnance Street is a classic example. This decision was made public over a year ago and it is only now that all this controversy has broken out.
Unfortunately, as with other issues in Malta, when elections are near and votes are up for grabs, politicians step in. The leader of Opposition performed another U-turn and advised us that if elected in the next general election, he would have the hawkers removed from Ordnance Street.
This is the same Nationalist Party that promised the hawkers, just before the last general election, that they will be relocated precisely to Ordnance Street once the City Gate project is completed. This is nothing new for the PN, which has broken other written promises in the past. As the saying goes, old habits die hard.
I believe that most people who voiced criticism over the relocation to Ordnance Street were mainly motivated by the bad design of the stalls, which do not blend well with the location and looked very sub-standard. I am sure that with a more professional design people would see things differently.
There are plenty of cities in Europe where open markets are located near historical places or in squares next to shops buzzing with activity, where people are searching for a bargain, enjoying a coffee or having something to eat.
An example I can mention is that of Annecy, a medieval city known as the ‘Little Venice of France’.
There are plenty of cities in Europe where open markets are located near historical places
There, the open market is located in the old part of the city and is an important attraction for tourists and residents alike.
If we do not want to turn Valletta into another silent city, like Mdina, we have to encourage the diverse activities that take place so that our capital city can cater to needs not only related to arts and culture but also commerce.
Every sales and marketing expert will tell you that the location of a retail outlet is very important for business. This is why rents in prime sites like Merchants Street and Republic Street come at a premium.
In any case, different activities can take place at the same location but at different times of the day, so that the needs of different interest groups would be met.
From my experience, a number of local councils do not appreciate that at the end of the day, the hawkers have to earn a living too. They have become the Cinderella of certain councils, with some residents pressuring the council with a “not in my back garden” attitude.
Other residents want them placed in a convenient location that is accessible.
The change in location of the monti in Rabat due to infrastructural works, for example, resulted in sales plummeting drastically to the detriment of the hawkers.
On the other hand, the Marsaxlokk restaurant owners, who for a time wanted to put some of their tables across the street and take some space from the monti hawkers there, have now come to the conclusion that the monti is good for their business.
At the end of the day one must remember that cities are there for the people and not the other way round.
If organised professionally and with the right standards I am sure that the open market would become an important marketing tool, drawing more locals and tourists to the city.
Victor Carachi is president of the General Workers’ Union.