The controversial decision to locate Monti hawkers’ stalls at the Valletta entrance in the vicinity of a parliament building designed by a world-class architect smacked of mediocrity, according to the Opposition leader.
Simon Busuttil appealed to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat not to go ahead with the decision, as he once again made it clear a Nationalist government would not permit hawkers to set up for business in any part of Ordnance Street.
Addressing the media in front of Renzo Piano’s parliament building, Dr Busuttil said locating hawkers in the vicinity of the new project did not make sense, not only from a cultural and aesthetic point of view but also for security reasons.
Dr Busuttil said the pre-electoral promise made to hawkers that they could move to the capital city’s entrance proved the party in government had sold its soul to win an election.
The Labour Party sold its soul to win an election
“It is clear this was an agreement the Labour Party made before the election. The government was boasting about the new set-up until there was a public outcry when the stall designs emerged, which can only be described as mediocre,” Dr Busuttil said.
The stall design – a mix of PVC, metal and wood, featuring eight-pointed crosses painted in red against a white background – generated a nationwide chorus of disapproval. The design has since been ditched and new designs will be evaluated by a committee.
Yet, Dr Busuttil said yesterday the mediocrity was not limited to the stalls’ design. The decision to locate them in front of the new Parliament building was mediocre too, and a reflection of the government’s disregard for culture.
“The decision is an insult to our culture and our identity,” Dr Busuttil said.
He stressed the government was refusing to change plans only because Dr Muscat was a hostage to promises made for votes. But a Nationalist government would instead initiate discussions with hawkers to seek an alternative solution.
Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said earlier yesterday that he agreed with the move to Ordnance Street because the stalls would give artists an opportunity to exhibit their products in a prime site when the market closes. Asked to react to the minister’s statement, Dr Busuttil replied: “Then he (Dr Bonnici) doesn’t understand culture”. Dr Busuttil said culture was a priority for the PN, on the same level as education and health. He pointed out the former Nationalist administration had commissioned a world class architect to overhaul the entrance to the city, a project Dr Muscat criticised from the start.
“We did this not because of the upcoming EU presidency, or V18, but because we wanted to celebrate our culture which is our identity,” Dr Busuttil said.
He said the project was now being attacked by a government that never gave the project its due importance.
“From the start, Dr Muscat said this was a waste of money. Yet €100 million spent on his Cabinet was not a waste of resources,” the Opposition leader said.
Dr Busuttil referred to other examples of how this government was undermining culture, not least the decision to turn Valletta ditch into a car park rather than a garden as intended in Piano’s design.
He said that while it was true that the former government had considered moving the market to Ordnance Street, it would not have spilled between the new Parliament and the former Opera House.
Furthermore, no such promises had been made in the PN electoral programme and he, as the new leader, was against moving the market there.
Also attending the news conference were Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli, PN culture spokesman Joe Cassar and theatre studies expert Vicki-Ann Cremona.