GRTU urges government for solution to Bisazza Street controversy

In a statement, GRTU condemned the confusion over the Bisazza Street pedestrianisation project and regretted the issue being “dumped” onto the public, retailers and consumers alike. “The perception is persistently being given that the public is being used as a pawn in the bargaining that is going on behind closed doors with the clear aim of loading more expense on Government,” it said.

It urged government to act on this issue and return to the negotiation table with the involvement of all stakeholders.

GRTU said that Bisazza Street is now a pedestrianised zone, approved by the public and government, and now “the issue now is how to implement and execute this decision through efficient traffic management.”

The Chamber of SMEs noted with regret that the issue concerning the further development of Sliema, is somehow being perceived by MIDI as some conflict between this Sliema area retailers and the exceptional investment done by Midi at Tigne.

“GRTU never looked at this issue in this way. On the contrary GRTU has been up front encouraging further planned and structured investment in the whole of the Sliema area. The Traffic management issue has been ongoing also for years and the GRTU regrets that while a substantial number of discussions have been transparent and done with the presence of GRTU, or directly with GRTU members through the Sliema Business Association who have followed diligently on a day to day basis the works program, not all discussions were transparent and not all decisions have been related to Sliema retailers,” it said.