Minister Chris Cardona did not show up for a meeting he had scheduled with Monti hawkers representatives today.

Monti hawkers received an invitation by post to meet up with the Minister to discuss the relocation and stalls design issue. However, the representatives who went for the meeting were not greeted by the Minister, but by a Ministerial consultant, Alex Farrugia.

The meeting was supposed to happen today at 4pm but Alex Farrugia told those present that he would not meet up with the monti hawkers' representatives as he wants to speak to all of the 75 stall owners.  

The monti hawkers committee turned up with a statute which proves that they are representing the hawkers as meeting up with 75 people would be chaotic.

Alex Farrugia, however insisted he wanted to speak to all the hawkers and not to their representatives.

Ministry says meeting was ‘postponed’

In a statement, the Ministry for the Economy and Investment said that the meeting which was supposed to be held today was postponed as only four of the 74 licensees turned up, together with a legal representative.

“The meeting was going to be held to discuss the future of the monti hawkers as the work on the old market will soon commence”, the statement said.

The Ministry said it believes that, for such an important meeting, there should have been a larger attendance.