Karozzin owners protest in front of Castille

Some 30 cab drivers yesterday protested in front of Castille, saying they would contest the legal notice forcing them to fix aprons under their horses' belly to prevent their dung soiling the streets.

Karozzin owners have been resisting fitting the bib, arguing that it was impractical and that it harmed and frightened their horses.

The cab drivers took their karozzini in front of the prime minister's office and were soon joined by General Workers' Union deputy general secretary Manwel Micallef, who heads the ports and transport workers' section representing the karozzin owners.

Mr Micallef appealed to Valletta council to stop booking owners who refuse to fit their horses with aprons and to return to the negotiating table.

"We need to discuss the provision of shelters and water for the horses, adequate facilities for the drivers, establish routes that are to be followed and other such matters," Mr Micallef said.

He said yesterday's protest was the first in a series of events aimed at putting pressure on the authorities. Mr Micallef appealed to the Malta Tourism Authority to intervene to save the karozzini, which were part of Malta's cultural heritage.

He said there were some 60 cabs, 50 of which operated in Valletta, and they were receiving notices to pay fines totalling Lm70 each week.

Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier said the council would continue to enforce the regulations as the government vet had certified that the bib caused no problems for the horses.

"As long as the regulations remain in force, we will enforce them. They have not come up with a concrete alternative since March, when regulations were announced. They are still fouling the streets. The only solution is to have the apron. Horses in other countries wear them, so I see no reason why our horses should be different," he said.

Dr Borg Olivier said the council was not willing to negotiate the issue.

"I am more than willing to speak about providing shelters for horses, water and other issues, even though none of these is the responsibility of the council. But I agree with them in principle and I am prepared to back them.

"But I am not willing to trade the apron issue for these. We can discuss the other issues but these have nothing to do with law enforcement," he said.

On Monday, seven cab drivers were fined a total of Lm780 for failing to fix the apron and for failing to appear before the tribunal. One of the cab drivers had been booked seven times for the same offence.

Drivers who flout the law are liable to a fine of Lm10 for the first offence and Lm20 for each subsequent offence.

Earlier this month, 19 cab owners were fined Lm190.