The relocation of the Valletta monti has hit another stumbling block after hawkers dismissed as a “non-starter” the government’s latest offer to compensate those willing to give up their licences.

Sources told The Sunday Times of Malta the offer of €23,000 made by the Economy Ministry – which is attempting to rationalise the number of stalls that can set up in the event of the market shifting from Merchants Street to Ordnance Street – was way below expectations.

“It is even lower than the amount offered in 2007 by the Nationalist administration, which offered €30,000,” hawkers told this newspaper. That proposal had led to the reduction of about 40 stalls.

Before the last general election the Labour Party had committed itself to relocating the Valletta open market to Ordnance Street, which would have included the area between the new Parliament and the Royal Opera House ruins. The move was due to go ahead at the start of this year when metal markings defining the space allotted to each of the 74 licensed hawkers were placed on the paving. However, it was abruptly halted following a public outcry that the monti would mar the recently opened Parliament building designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. In an interview with this newspaper in July, Economy Minister Chris Cardona had said that the government was planning to reduce between 10 and 15 hawkers, so that all the stalls would fit into the available space.

This decision had outraged hawkers who felt betrayed in the wake of Labour’s pre-election commitment.

Nevertheless, some had indicated they would they would consider giving up their licence in return for around €100,000.

“While we were under no illusions, the latest offer is insulting to say the least,” hawkers said.

They also lamented that they had been left in a state of limbo for months, as it is not clear if the move has been shelved. No response was forthcoming from the Economy Ministry to questions sent last Thursday.

In the 2016 Budget the government made a vague statement saying that “other solutions” were being considered regarding the relocation of the monti to Ordnance Street.