The dispute over karozzini (horse drawn cabs) in Valletta should not be taken lightly since the karozzini were part of Malta's history, culture and folklore, the Opposition spokesman on tourism said today.

The government and the karozzini owners are in dispute after the government removed the stand on Palace Square.

"The government should preserve and promote this old form of transport. Valletta is not the only European city where such traditional modes of transport operate. Cities such as Florence and Bruges do their best to promote traditional forms of transport as part of the tourism product," Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said.

She said the administrators of those cities found ways to integrate those ways of transport in the hearts of their cities and the Maltese government needed to realise that the karozzini were part of the chain of tourist attractions.

She criticised the governemnt for not having sought agreement with the cab owners and called for a solution to be found in the interests of tourism, the preservation of this mode of transport, and the cab owners' families.