Hawkers selling goods at Dwejra insist that reports by the authorities about unlicensed vendors are only meant to instil fear, adding that permanent kiosk operators want to scare them away.
This newspaper reported earlier this week that five hawkers were warned they could not operate from a fixed site unless they had an encroachment permit following complaints by licensed kiosk owners. Permits to set up a mobile kiosk cost about €8,000.
Hawkers, on the other hand, must be in possession of a trading licence, a police permit and an authorisation by the local council allowing them to sell their wares.
This is all a personal vendetta against us
A Land Department spokeswoman confirmed to this newspaper that warnings had been issued to unlicensed sellers. However, two hawkers who say they hold all necessary licences accuse kiosk operators of wanting the hawkers to leave.
“This is all a personal vendetta against us. We have been accused of stealing their business but we have every right to be there,” Amanda Chew, one of the licensed hawkers, told this newspaper yesterday. She insisted that the hawkers were being harassed because they were not required to pay for the permits as they did not have permanent structures from where to sell.
“We abide by all the rules and make sure we have everything in place. There is enough trade for everyone here and the whole thing just stinks of greed,” Ms Chew said.
Echoing similar concerns, licensed hawker Cynthia Downham said the kiosk owners had, for months, tried to scare them off, calling on the authorities at every opportunity. She insisted that, despite being in possession of all the necessary licences, she was still being targeted by the kiosks owners.
“I’m only interested in my business but others expect that, just because they pay a premium to have their kiosk here, they can harass the rest,” she said.
The local council had told this newspaper that, though it was not responsible for the issue of permits, it was “preoccupied with the situation”, fearing Dwejra bay was becoming a shabby place.
A Dwejra steering committee was set up by the Environment Ministry earlier this summer in an attempt to manage the area. Situated close to the iconic Azure Window, the bay attracts thousands of visitors every year and is often regarded as one of the main attractions of the Maltese islands.