Signs in Marsa telling pedestrians that no drinking of alcohol is allowed in the area have no force at law, the mayor has admitted.
Francis Debono confirmed to this newspaper that the signs put up by his council were intended as advice for the migrants who regularly flock to the bars in the area.
“There is no law or by-law that prohibits people from drinking alcohol in the area, but the council wanted to convey its wish that the area, which lies next to a playing field, is not turned into an unruly zone where alcohol abuse is the norm,” Mr Debono said.
The signs, which, according to the mayor, have been there for quite some time, ended up at the centre of controversy on Facebook after someone posted a photo with a comment expressing indignation at “the way this country has ended up”.
The bars and those who drink there have created a problem of littering and antisocial behaviour
The post was followed by several comments, some of which interpreted the signs as a religious imposition by Muslim migrants. One of the comments asked sarcastically: “Is that Marsastan or Saudi Arabia?”
However, Mr Debono said the signs had nothing to do with religion and were more about acceptable social behaviour.
“The bars and those who drink there have created a problem of littering and antisocial behaviour, as drunk people end up relieving themselves in public,” Mr Debono said.
He admitted, though, that the signs were having little impact, as many of those buying alcohol from the bars still ended up drinking on the pavement at all hours of the day.
Several bars in the area see brisk business from migrants residing in the Marsa open centre, which is some 800 metres away. The bars lie between the parish church and the playing field, a stone’s throw from the police station.
The mayor lamented the decision taken years ago to locate the open centre in Marsa, which put a strain on the community.
“I understand that migrants have to be housed somewhere, but the problem with Marsa is that large numbers were housed at the open centre at one go, which did not allow enough time for integration to happen slowly,” Mr Debono said.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com