[WATCH] Monti hawkers make ‘unannounced’ move to Ordnance Street

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Loyal monti clients and visitors to Valletta were surprised by the seemingly unannounced move of monti hawkers and their stalls from Merchants Street to Ordnance Street, a few metres away from the new Parliament building earlier today.

The move, approved by Transport Malta, the police and the economy ministry, was announced earlier this year, causing something of an uproar as critics and stakeholders lambasted the plans, saying that placing stalls in the elegant entrance would beat the purpose of the newly designed Parliament buildings, which were designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, costing the country an estimated €45 million.

Renzo Piano’s lead architect, Antonio Belvedere, had famously spoken out about the decision and said that placing the stalls between the parliament building and Pjazza Teatru Rjal was something like “making a cake, then spitting on it.”

Adding to the usual hustle and bustle of the main entrance to the city, the monti stalls attracted a vast number of tourists and clients, some sheltering from the harsh summer sunshine and others running their daily errands in the area.

“I always try to make a trip to the stalls in Merchants Street, and when I didn’t find the stalls there this morning, I assumed they would be here,” Valletta resident Anna Grech told the newsroom.

“It didn’t make that much of a difference to me personally, but I think the area will be more easily accessible to tourists, and to people who travel to Valletta purposely for the market,” Grech said, noting the close proximity to the bus terminus.

Some hawkers commented that they hoped to have more permanent stalls to blend into the elegant surroundings

Most of the hawkers were reluctant to comment on camera, but the majority of them expressed optimism about the change, although “it was too early to be confident about the result of the move.”

Hawkers Ramon Camilleri  and Vince Grima said that so far, the area had provided him with a constant flow of clients walking through, but that they would know whether the move had been truly effective by the end of the day.

Grima explained that he had seen the stalls move to at least four different locations throughout his experience as a hawker in the past 40 years.

"It will take around three weeks or a month for us to know how the move has affected business," he said, noting that hawkers had dropped in number following the decision to move.

Other hawkers, who preferred to remain anonymous told the newsroom that they thought the new location would ultimately help to boost their business, but they added that they hoped they would have more permanent stalls.

“Having a permanent stall would mean that the appearance is much less shabby, and it will also mean that there is less noise and pollution early in the mornings as we set up the stalls and drive our vans into the area,” he said.

He added that such permanent and more elegant fixtures could also result in more investment and business, with more individuals taking up the mantle and setting up stalls with various activities.

In a statement issued later on, the Economy Ministry said that the move sought to "benefit both the buyers and sellers" by making the market   more accessible.

"This move has been carried out in line with the Government’s commitment to safeguard the interests of the monti hawkers and their families, who are dependent on this trade, and the consumers themselves," the statement read, adding that the ministry would continue to collaborate with the monti hawkers, Valletta shop owners and all other stakeholders to preserve and maintain the monti tradition.

The public can contact the ministry for any queries, suggestions or comments, on [email protected].