In a statement issued yesterday opposing to Parliament being relocated to the Royal Opera House site, the GRTU said Valletta works on a system that offers a retail chain – a series of shops along Republic street that attract customers and entice people to continue walking to see what else is on offer.

Relocating Parliament to the beginning of the city’s main road is not viable for trade, said the GRTU.

The chamber explained that the shops in the part beyond the present Parliament and the Presidential Palace have suffered, due to the security required in the area.

If this is anything to go by, all the shops along Republic street may suffer if Parliament is relocated to the Royal Opera House site, said the chamber.

Contractors spent large sums of money to submit tenders regarding the site.

The GRTU believes these expenses should not go to waste and there has to be an effort for entrepreneurs and private contractors to draw up a practical project that can address the needs of the city, such as parking.