This Saturday 6th April at 11am, we will be joining the Valletta residents in front of Parliament to protest against the current state of Valletta.
The occupation of public spaces in Valletta by tables, chairs and other structures placed on public land by catering outlets has now exceeded all limits.
Despite there being clear policies that are meant to regulate the operation of outdoor catering areas, enforcement is largely non-existent. The authorities concerned, namely the Lands Authority, the Planning Authority and the MTA are clearly not fit for the job.
Due to the impunity that reigns in this sector, the owners of catering establishments are running roughshod over the right of residents to public accessibility and a decent quality of life. The Valletta residents are having to bear to brunt of the unbridled commercialisation of their public spaces.
As the Office of the Ombudsman stressed, the situation is so desperate that emergency vehicles such as ambulances are finding carriageways blocked as they have to squeeze past tables and chairs to get to people in distress. All these illegalities and abuses are making the life of Valletta residents very difficult.
Residents from other localities who are also facing the same problems, including Sliema, Buġibba, Marsaskala and Mellieħa, will be joining us for this protest organised by the Valletta residents.
Our capital city, which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an integral part of our collective cultural heritage and must be protected. We therefore encourage you to join us!
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Nhar is-Sibt 6 ta’ April fil-11am se nkunu qed ningħaqdu mar-residenti Beltin quddiem il-Parlament fi protesta kontra l-istat attwali li fih tinsab il-Belt Valletta.
L-okkupazzjoni tal-ispazji pubbliċi fil-Belt Valletta mill-imwejjed, siġġijiet u strutturi oħra mqiegħda fuq art pubblika mir-ristoranti u l-istabbilimenti kummerċjali issa qabżet kull limitu aċċettabbli.
Minkejja li jeżistu liġijiet ċari biex jirregolaw l-operat tar-ristoranti fuq art pubblika, ma teżisti ebda forma ta’ infurzar serju min-naħa tal-awtoritajiet ikkonċernati, fosthom l-Awtorità tal-Artijiet, l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar u l-MTA. Sforz din il-klima ta’ impunità, is-sidien tal-istabbilimenti kummerċjali qed jagħmlu li jridu, bir-residenti tal-Belt Valletta jkollhom ibatu l-konsegwenzi tal-ġungla li ġab miegħu l-kummerċ bla rażan.
Kif saħaq l-Ombudsman, saħansitra ambulanza qed issib diffikultà biex tgħaddi mit-toroq maħnuqa bl-imwejjed u s-siġġijiet. Din il-klima ta’ illegalità u abbuż qed tagħmel il-ħajja tar-residenti Beltin diffiċli ħafna.
Għal din il-protesta organizzata mill-Beltin se jkunu qed jingħaqdu magħna wkoll għadd ta’ residenti minn lokalitajiet oħra li qed iħabbtu wiċċhom mal-istess sitwazzjoni, fosthom Tas-Sliema, Buġibba, Wied il-Għajn u l-Mellieħa.
Il-belt kapitali, li hija patrimonju dinji tal-UNESCO, hija wirt kulturali tagħna kollha u jeħtieġ li nipproteġuha. Inħeġġukom biex tingħaqdu magħna!