The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise – including its Leisure and Tourism Economic Group and its Shipping and Bunkering Trade Section – deplored the goings on at Grand Harbour on Friday, when over 1,500 cruise passengers were unable to leave the MSC Sinfonia for around an hour.

The chamber insisted that it was best that feuds be settled by discussion.

The actions taken to hinder passengers from disembarking could damage the reputation of the country as a port of call for cruise liners.

It should not have been the personal intervention by Communications Minister Censu Galea to shoulder the responsibility “should anything happen” to have resolved the issue, but a mature and proactive attitude by all concerned.

The chamber hoped that all parties concerned understood the ramifications ensuing from their decisions and actions, and looked forward to a healthier and more understanding relationship between the operators at the harbour.