For the second consecutive day, over 100 Valletta street hawkers who operate the open-air market (monti) staged an impromptu protest in the main streets of the capital yesterday, led by Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) secretary general Gejtu Vella and other union members.

Addressing the hawkers in St James Ditch before they started walking, Mr Vella pointed out that it was the third day that the street hawkers were not setting up their stalls as a sign of protest.

“We will not set up the stalls in a place where no one ever goes,” said Mr Vella, referring to St James ditch, where they have been asked to set up their stalls while Merchants Street, their normal place of business, is paved. I know this means that, for the third day, many families will not have any income but we need to make a sacrifice to get what we want,” said Mr Vella.

He pointed out that the union was always in favour of dialogue as often the best solutions emerged through peaceful discussions.

“However, the government is not even considering dialogue as an option,” said Mr Vella.

He added that, today, the union would hold meetings with its various committees, as the hawkers’ cause deserved the backing of the whole union.

Mr Vella said the hawkers would meet again at 8am this morning at St James Ditch and that the UHM was prepared for everything and would take whatever action was necessary.

He pointed out that, since the white paper was published two years ago, no discussion had been instigated by the government.

Mr Vella strongly criticised the decision taken by the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) not to attend or carry the story of Tuesday’s protest.

“It was a big mistake to hold back information about a protest attended by 120 families,” he said.

“It was an even bigger mistake for the country’s state television to censor the issue and deny the public their right to form an opinion through information,” said Mr Vella.

He added that following Tuesday’s street protest, he had received positive feedback on the way it was held.

Before starting off, Mr Vella stressed the importance of holding a peaceful and organised protest to send a clear message to the public and the authorities.

The hawkers, led by Mr Vella and other members of the UHM, walked from St James Ditch, up Glormu Cassar Avenue, past Castille and into Republic Street.

The hawkers made their presence felt, with many holding up papers with the slogans Fil-Fossa bla Xoghol (No work in the ditch), or Fil-Fossa qas tisma hoss (It is all quiet in the ditch), while whistling and chanting various songs on the way.

Tourists stopped to take photos and people in shops and employees came out to see what was going on.

As the hawkers passed, people were heard passing comments in their favour – that, for example, they should be given a proper place to set up their stalls.

The hawkers turned into Merchants Street and started chanting minghajrna x’dwejjaq hawn (it is depressing without us) and minghajrna cimiterju (it is dead as a cemetery without us).

There was a strong police presence in Valletta, with at least eight police officers standing in front of the entrance to Castille.

On the way back, when the hawkers went by Castille, they all knelt down and started chanting Postna il-Belt u mhux il-foss (our place is in Valletta and not in the ditch).

Mr Vella said the union had written to the government on Monday requesting a meeting but had still not received a reply.

“The situation is not acceptable. Until the work in Merchants Street is completed, the hawkers should set up their stalls in Freedom Square,” he said.

One hawker pointed out that it would not be the first time they had set up their stalls there.

“Some people look down on the monti, but it should not be so. It is part of Malta’s enterprise and there are around 120 families dependent on it for their living,” said Mr Vella.

When asked about certain comments made by the government, that the size of the present stalls did not conform to the law, Mr Vella said “we always follow what is stated in the law.”