The Economy Ministry’s “interlocutor” in talks between Valletta’s market hawkers and Merchants Street businesses is a representative of the Monti Hawkers Association who has never even met with the shop owners, it emerged in court yesterday.
The mediator, Joe Zrinzo, was described by the ministry’s legal team yesterday as leading the government’s consultation on relocating the market.
They were speaking during a court sitting to consider a request filed by the Merchants Street Business Community Association for an injunction against stalls moving up to the top half of the street. Mr Zrinzo, however, was later described by lawyer Edward Gatt, who is representing the aggrieved shop owners, as “an ambassador for monti hawkers”.
“He can meet with the government all he likes but he will only ever be speaking on behalf of the hawkers. He has never met with the business owners,” Dr Gatt said.
Mr Zrinzo acted for several years as the Monti Hawkers Association’s main spokesman.
Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon, who presided over the sitting, said the Civil Court would decide in the coming weeks whether or not to intervene in the planned relocations. Yesterday’s court proceedings saw some two dozen business owners shuffle into the courtroom along with Paul Abela, who heads the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Taking the witness stand, Economy Ministry consultant Alex Farrugia insisted no decision had yet been taken on where to relocate the stalls.
Mr Farrugia would not confirm whether the move would actually go ahead, nor would he disclose the names of any other streets which could host the monti instead.
Tonio Camilleri, the president of the Merchants Street Business Community Association, took the witness stand and said he was sure the plans to move the stalls had almost been finalised.
He said he had met with another Economy Ministry consultant, Jonathan Attard, who had “made it clear” that the move was on the cards.
He said Dr Attard, whose father was also a monti hawker, had given him details of where the stalls would be set up and how big they would be. “If they already have these details, it seems they know where the move is happening,” Mr Camilleri said.
Asked about this by Judge Zammit McKeon, the ministry’s legal team said their position was simply that no decision had yet been taken.
“Speaking bluntly,” the shop owners’ lawyer said he understood why the ministry would not reveal other potential locations for the open market. “No one wants a monti outside their business. Are we really looking at the possibility of leaving St John’s towards St James and being faced with monti underwear stalls?” Dr Gatt told the court.
In a statement, the government yesterday said it was suspending the consultation process pending the court’s decision.