Updated - Adds opposition reaction - Valletta's indoor market, known to all as Is-suq tal-belt, is to be given a new lease of life after having been entrusted by the the government to a private company, Arkadia Co. Ltd. The site is being  handed over after a call for expressions of interest.

The company will invest €7 million on the redevelopment of the site in Merchants' Street.

The lower floor will feature several stalls selling food on the model of food markets in Spain.

The first floor will have a number of catering establishments - from the traditional hobz biz-zejt to oyster bars.

There will be a lounge on the top floor.

The project will be finished by the end of next year.

Antoine Portelli, Arkadia spokesman said this architectural gem will be turned into a prime market, similar of major market attractions across Europe such as the San Miguel market in Madrid. 

OPPOSITION RAISES QUESTIONS

In a reaction to the announcement, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi, former minister responsible for government land, said that while one welcomed any private investment in the efficient use of public land, especially in a landmark site, the law needed to be observed.

The Disposal of Government Land Act (DGLA prohibited any disposal of public land unless done either by parliamentary resolution or after a public call for tenders.

No Request for Proposals (RFP)or call for expressions of Interest (EOI) satisfied the requirements of the DGLA.

"The news that the allocation was not made by neither a public call for tenders nor by a Parliamentary Resolution raises several questions. Definitely, it would be most interesting to know if the Attorney General’s advice was sought before granting public land through an RFP. If such advice was sought and was in the affirmative, then I would be very curious to know on what basis and why is this advice diametrically opposed to the one myself and all my predecessors were given in that no public land can be disposed of except after a public call for tender," Dr Azzopardi said.

He pointed out that the DGLA was the only law giving the Attorney General the right to demand in court, on his initiative, the nullity of any disposal of public land made in contravention of the requirements of the law.

The government replied that before a resolution was moved in Parliament negotiations with the selected company had to be concluded. This was because the agreement reached with the company would have to be presented with the resolution.

However, Dr Azzopardi said it was obvious that the government's reference to a Parliamentary resolution  was an afterthought as this had not been mentioned in the government's original statement.

STRAIT STREET REGENERATION

Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon said the government is also investing €1.2 million on the regeneration of Strait Street. He said a number of steps  along the street will be replaced because of their poor condition. Parts of the street will be paved with lava stone.

There will be new lighting inspired by old street lamps used in the past.

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