The GRTU has insisted with the government that Palace Square, Freedom Square and the streets in close proximity to the centre of Valletta should remain open for parking and available on charge without any privileges whatsoever.

In a strongly-worded letter to Minister Austin Gatt, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia describes these two squares as the lungs of the Valletta commercial centre.

The GRTU insisted that these squares should remain available for parking on all days until the government builds underground parking spaces under these squares. For as long as underground parking was not available, these squares should remain available for parking and all functions in these squares reduced to the barest minimum essential.

Parking in Palace Square and Freedom Square should be on payment for everyone during the times that the controlled vehicular access system operated.

No one should be exempt – no residents, no business owners, no hawkers, no government officials, no members of Parliament. If the government felt there should be exemptions, such as for MPs, the institution responsible for them should pay for parking vouchers, the GRTU said.