An association aiming to represent commercial establishments in Paceville and lobby on their behalf was officially launched yesterday.

The Paceville Commercial Establishment Association has already been active for some time, but has since received the final approval from the registrar of Industrial Employment Relations.

Its president, Mark Grima, said that the group now expected to be represented in every body or forum which concerned Paceville

Mr Grima lashed out at laws which seemed to specifically target Paceville establishments, as well as laws which were applied discriminatorily. He said that it was unacceptable for certain regulations to be enforced in Paceville while similar establishments elsewhere could breach them with impunity.

“Paceville should not be a pilot project,” he noted.

Mr Grima insisted that the PCEA had wanted to ensure everyone connected to Paceville – including residents, the police force and the local council – was on board, adding that the group would not achieve its goals if it simply sought to look after its own interests.

He stressed that the group would not just represent bar and club owners but was open to any commercial establishment in Paceville. The number of members was growing, he said, and was expected to grow even further now that the group obtained formal recognition.

Mr Grima said that the group also seeks to market Paceville, including through the organisation of events.

Lawyer Emmanuel Mallia, whose law firm assisted in setting up the group, said that Paceville was crucial to the tourism industry, adding that establishments had to invest substantial amounts of capital for this to take place.

Dr Mallia noted that regulations were needed to manage the area effectively, but balance was often lacking. Often, after long periods of inaction, regulations which discouraged investment were implemented, he said.

He argued that it was not ideal for regulations to be left to people who had no experience with nightlife and who may even be prejudiced against it despite changing circumstances.

Claims of racial discrimination in Paceville establishments are often made, but both Mr Grima and Dr Mallia insisted that there was no widespread problem.

Dr Mallia said that the association, as well as individual establishment owners, opposed discrimination, despite some incidents which may occur without their consent. He also insisted that ultimately, people who created trouble or who broke the law should be dealt with, regardless of their ethnicity.

Mr Grima, on the other hand, noted that people were often prevented entry to establishments, for issues including non-adherence to dress code, and insisted that claims of discrimination had to be taken in context.