There were moments of tension in Valletta’s Merchants Street yesterday when some monti hawkers who had temporarily moved their stalls because of works on the Palace were asked to return to their original positions.

Although they were aware their move had been temporary because of scaffolding, the hawkers were disappointed as they felt business was better when they moved further up Merchants Street.

The move had incensed shop owners in the popular shopping area who had complained the hawkers had reduced their shops’ visibility.

In May, scaffolding put up on the back side of the Palace as part of its restoration project had forced some hawkers to leave their place and set up further up the road, reaching the corner with St John’s Street.

The hawkers were moved as the scaffolding and works could endanger both the hawkers and their customers.

But they did not appreciate being ordered to move back to their original position once the scaffolding had been dismantled and put up further down the road.

The hawkers were loudly contesting the decision and at one point the police were called in to calm the situation in the sweltering morning heat.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the hawkers told Times of Malta their business had improved since they had moved further up Merchants Street, vindicating their request to move permanently.

“I sold more when I was up there, so it’s obvious I’m going to complain about going back down. We are out of people’s reach,” one angry hawker said.

However, various businesses said they were happy the hawkers had returned to their original position, saying the street did not look cluttered and messy any more. Some even said the hawkers’ presence had “ruined” their business.

An Economy Ministry spokesman confirmed there was an argument related to the move, which was quickly settled.

“The ministry’s position on this issue has been clear from the outset. All monti hawkers have their own allocated space. It is only those whose original space was hindered by the works taking place on the Palace facade that were given an alternative space,” he said.