Controversial book ship to revisit

The floating bookshop Doulos, which was at the centre of a raging controversy during its visit to Malta last year, plans to return later this year and has applied for a trading licence to sell books.

On its last visit, the government had decided not to allow it to sell books from its stock, arguing that it did not have a trading licence.

This stand had been supported by the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise, GRTU, and the Chamber of Commerce. Several bookshops and other individuals had, however, opposed the government's decision.

The ship had then offered visitors the chance to receive a "gift" of Lm5 worth of books, against a donation if they so wished.

The Doulos management said yesterday it had already received positive responses from the Malta Maritime Authority and other suppliers and professional firms. It said that since April it had been warmly welcomed in several EU countries, namely the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In all these ports the ship was able to carry out its planned calendar of activities.

Will that be the case in Malta? Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo said yesterday the government had not, as yet, taken a position about this particular case. He said the Doulos had last year appealed the government's decision not to grant it a trading licence and a judgment had still not been given.

Mr Vassallo said the government had to decide whether to await that decision before considering a new application from the same body or whether it should consider the new application without waiting for that decision.

There are still mixed feelings about the situation but a decision about whether or not to grant the Doulos a trading licence would be taken in due time.

Mr Vassallo said that once the government reached its decision it would communicate it to the management of the Doulos.

GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said his association's position had always been, and remained, that ships in harbour should not be given permit to trade. It was irrelevant what the money made was to be used for and what the product being sold was.

He said that according to local and European legislation it was not permissible to trade from ships in harbour and laws should be respected.

When it was pointed out to Mr Farrugia that the Doulos had been allowed to sell its books in other European ports, Mr Farrugia said this was only what its management had claimed they did. The Doulos, he said, had never provided any proof that it had actually traded in other ports in Europe.

Mr Farrugia said the GRTU would not object to the Doulos unloading its cargo and getting a trading licence but unless legislation was changed there could be no trading from ships in harbour.

The Doulos is currently sailing towards Rouen, in France, after which it will be heading for Bremen, in Germany.

"We have very positive memories of our previous visit to Malta in 2003 and are looking forward to our forthcoming call. Everyone on board enjoyed the Maltese generosity and their reputation of being a hospitable nation.

"We have submitted our application for a trading licence on June 8 and are optimistic that we shall receive a favourable reply in time, thus allowing the Doulos to carry out her planned activities, including the sale of books, on what is still the largest floating book fair in the world."