Another business organisation has come out strongly against the discrimination being practised in the controlled vehicular access system operating in Valletta.

The system has been denounced by the GRTU, Chamber of Medium and Small Enterprises. Yesterday, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise joined the fray, saying it regretted having to resort to public statements to denounce “the ludicrous situation of parking in Valletta in view of the special treatment being afforded to monti hawkers.”

The CVA system in operation in Valletta, it added, “has now been turned into a means of discrimination with monti hawkers being granted free access to park in Valletta, while other businesspeople and employees – who also need to enter Valletta to earn their living – are being denied such ‘privileges’. For the chamber, this constitutes discrimination.”

Comments by the authorities that St George’s Square should ideally not be used as a car park were more than welcome but these same statements needed to be supported by action, and surely not by allowing vans to be parked there for the better part of the day.

The chamber said the arrangement was not only creating undesired discrimination but was also defeating the whole scope of the CVA scheme – which the chamber supported in principle. “This is surely not a step in the right direction and the chamber augurs that discussions are held with all stakeholders for this situation to be rectified without any further unnecessary delay for the benefit of all Valletta patrons.”