Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1523932
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JULY 2024 Let's get down to business on tables and chairs Editorial THE enforcement action taken by multiple agencies in St George's Square in Rabat, Gozo last week was commendable. At the very least it shows that when the au- thorities find the will to act they can find solu- tions to problems. Very often when it comes to enforcement action involving tables and chairs placed outside by restaurants and other estab- lishments, the issue is one of ownership since no single authority seems able to tackle the is- sue on its own. What happened in Gozo was a concerted ef- fort that saw officials from the Malta Tourism Authority, the Planning Authority, the Lands Authority and the police acting together to en- sure that a masterplan that already exists for that square is respected. This is the team effort that is needed to bring some order in many squares and streets across Malta and Gozo where restaurants and enter- tainment establishments are allowed to take out tables and chairs. The enforcement action taken in Gozo should not be the last exercise of its sort. Valletta, Sliema, Gżira, Marsaskala, Xlendi, Marsalforn and other areas are crying out for such enforce- ment action. Outside dining is not something that should be shunned or discredited. Outside dining helps inject character and life into public are- as and our weather makes it ideal to have such concessions. However, what bothers many is the sense of entitlement many restaurant owners seem to have over what is after all public space. Government should always be judicious in the manner by which such concessions are given to ensure access is always adequate and communi- ty activities can always take place unhindered. But more importantly, government should also be in a position to enforce any conditions it im- poses on operators. It is the greed of some operators that irks peo- ple. It is the abuse of restricting access on pave- ments and squares that causes outrage. If the Gozo experiment can be repeated at regular intervals on a continuous basis across various localities, order could be restored. But more importantly, the authorities should also ask restaurants to display official documenta- tion indicating on a map the area of the conces- sion granted to them. In this way, enforcement can be simplified and delegated to a single en- tity. Additionally, fines for abuse should be in- creased and repeat offences should lead to the termination of the concession. Barklori are no threat to ferry The monopoly given to the sea ferry company to operate the Sliema-Valletta route is justifia- ble since it ensures viability of this mass trans- port service. The monopoly was granted in 2012 for an eight-year period and effectively meant that the traditional boats, known as dgħajjes tal-pass, could not operate between Sliema and Valletta as a taxi service. The monopoly was extended for another three years upon its expiry in 2020. It may still make sense to have a monopoly given the country's need to have a viable mass transport service within the two main ports. But the question is whether such a monopoly should exclude traditional dgħajjes from plying their trade in Marsamxett Harbour. We do not use the word 'mass transport' cas- ually to refer to the ferry. The ferry is effective- ly a means of mass public transport, which can help ease traffic congestion in the inner har- bour area. The dgħajjes tal-pass are anything but a 'mass transport' system and more akin to a taxi ser- vice. In no way can they ever compete in vol- umes and service with the ferry, which is why it makes no sense to have a monopoly that ex- cludes the traditional water taxis from plying their trade. The monopoly should be restricted only to the scheduled ferry service, similar to what hap- pens in land transport with a monopolistic con- cession granted to one bus company. And just like on land, taxis are allowed to operate, the dgħajjes tal-pass should also be able to operate within our ports. Barklori are right to protest against this re- striction. The government should not ignore their plea. Barklori are not asking for public subsidies but to be given the chance to boost their income by offering a taxi service be- tween Sliema and Valletta. This can hardly be construed as a commercial threat to the ferry service, which is cheaper (it is actually free of charge since government subsidises the fare), faster and more comfortable. Quote of the Week "Government wants to turn Balluta into a commercial port, confirming how corrupt this administration is… Hands off Balluta, and give us back what is ours. Tourists and residents have a right to enjoy this bay." PN MP Albert Buttigieg speaking in parliament on the prolonged closure of Balluta Bay due to sewage contamination. MaltaToday 10 years ago 13 July 2014 Ministers are worth well over €5 million PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat's second Cab- inet has suffered a minor dent in its net worth of some €35,000 – although the latest ministe- rial declarations still make it worth some €5.3 million in declared earnings. The biggest climber in the Cabinet is for- mer tourism minister Karmenu Vella, whose deposits went up from €140,000 to €665,000 from the sale of a property in Marsascala. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna saw an upward shift in his fortunes, with a €50,000 increase in bank deposits. The biggest losers were energy minister Konrad Mizzi who suffered an €87,000 dent to his bank account, and Gozo minister Anton Refalo, who despite his impressive portfolio of properties lost €24,000. Economy Minister Chris Cardona's decla- rations for 2014 include €468,000 in bank de- posits belonging to his wife. Newcomer junior minister Chris Fearne is a new heavyweight, valued at over €420,000 apart from properties; while junior minis- ter for planning Michael Falzon declared €175,000 in deposits, as well as his Ilkin resi- dence and 2,000 square metres of Bahrija land. Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia re- tained the first position in the government's rich list, adding a hefty €55,000 to his previous declaration of assets. Mallia is by far the wealthiest minister in the current Cabinet, according to the declarations tabled in Parliament earlier this week, with almost €2.1 million in investments and bank deposits to his name. Apart from revealing who is, at least on pa- per, the richest and poorest within the Cabi- net, once again the documents showed that a number of ministers in Joseph Muscat's team have a penchant for owning large quantities of immovable property.