Flanked by the mayor of Rabat and representatives from the Vittoriosa and Cospicua local councils, Mr Vassallo explained that in the past months, a verification exercise had already been conducted for the localities of Naxxar (20 hawkers), Qormi (205 hawkers), Zejtun (91 hawkers), Birzebbuga (35 hawkers), Attard (Ta’ Qali, 215 hawkers), Paola (107 hawkers on various days) and Sliema (12 hawkers on Wednesday and Friday).
After the names of the hawkers had been published in the Government Gazette, these were in turn verified by the respective local councils and approval was given.
Mr Vassallo said that now the process would move on to Rabat (94 hawkers) and Vittoriosa (285 hawkers) after the stall license holders were published in the Government Gazette last week.
The local councils of Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Rabat would now be checking these licences and would be approving them accordingly. Mr Vassallo explained that from now, markets would begin operating in a regulated environment because, without local council approval, no hawker can set up a stall even if he has a valid trade licence.
Mr Vassallo also emphasised the fact that the total number of registered licences in these markets amounts to around 1,064 and this provides a living for around 500 families, “as much as a large factory”, he said. Therefore it was important that this sector be regulated and cared for. He added that the exercise for Rabat, Vittoriosa and Cospicua should be concluded by the end of September.
When asked by journalists on the criteria that would apply in a case of there being more hawkers than the space available, Mr Vassallo said that the local council would have a waiting list available that is also to be published, indicating one’s status on a first come, first served basis.
He added that the local councils have absolute jurisdiction on the markets in their locality and they may decide not to grant a space if someone vacated their stall or they could also decide to expand the market. Mr Vassallo said that in the coming months, a similar exercise would be conducted to regulate the markets in Mosta, Marsaxlokk, Floriana (on Sunday morning), Siggiewi and Luqa.
He also praised the Zejtun and Naxxar local councils who have initiated good waste disposal schemes to clear up the problem of rubbish left over by the markets. While auguring success to the councils in their endeavours, Mr Vassallo revealed that a legal notice currently at the Attorney General for translation will be published in the near future to simplify procedures for those local councils who wish to set up markets in their localities.