Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/455578
A Nationalist government will not allow the Valletta 'monti' hawkers to set up in Ordinance Street or any- where near the Piano project, party leader Simon Busuttil has said. "For me, culture always wins over mediocrity. Therefore, under (sic) my watch, the Valletta Monti will not stay where it's an eyesore to the Renzo Piano project." Renzo Piano's lead architect on the City Gate project, Antonio Bel- vedere, is said to be "crying" over a government decision to relocate the monti stalls next to the new parlia- ment building. Belvedere was equally unenthu- siastic over the design of the new stalls – a design which has attracted the disgust of many. Speaking to The Times of Malta, the Italian ar- chitect also said that there was "an issue" with the quality of the monti itself. He argued that this was "a souk but without the charm of a souk. A souk is charming, it's full of energy, it's messy but the mess gives you the sense of the beauty of life. This is just a mess. "What can I say? It's a shame, I am crying," Belvedere told the newspa- per. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat believes that a monti be- tween the new parliament building and the open air theatre would "in- still life in the city". He was forced to step in to see that the design of the new stalls – made of metal and painted wood featuring the eight- pointed cross – is changed. The design of the stalls was or- dered by the committee to improve the Valletta monti, led by architect William Lewis, with 75 stalls con- structed so far. Other relevant authorities – among them Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli and Valletta 2018 Founda- tion chairman Jason Micallef – also criticised the initative. Referring to the stalls as "cheap-looking", Dingli also observed that the new location of the monti would create noise pol- lution for residents, while also tak- ing up precious parking spots. Micallef said he was "saddened" by the decision, while in a Facebook statement, the Valletta 2018 Foun- dation said that it is "against the decision, the design and the concept of the new monti stalls and their lo- cation," adding that it "does not see the move as befitting the architec- tural fabric of the city's entrance, nor will it benefit Maltese culture in the run up to 2018". Online backlash to the stalls has been vociferous, with a Facebook page calling for a rethink of the plans – set up by Valletta's deputy mayor, Christian Micallef, with support of Matthew Paris, deputy mayor of Floriana – garnering just under 2,000 'Likes' by the time of going to print. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2015 News Innovative IT Solutions and Security Systems to enhance your business Simple – We make complex uncomplicated. Innovative – We bring ideas to life. Different – We foster expertise to be a cut above the rest. Trust – We are committed to be reliable and responsible. Nineteen Twenty Three, Valletta Road, Marsa MRS 3000, Malta. T. (+356) 2144 5566 E. info@ptl.com.mt IT & SECURITY EXPERTS www.ptl.com.mt PTL is a member of Hili Ventures Correspondence deal A Nationalist government will not Busuttil will pull plug on mediocre monti stalls One of the offending stalls