Fair Competition Minister Jason Azzopardi announced yesterday the reopening on Sundays of the monti open air market in Valletta, as from this Sunday.

His statement did not say if the Sunday market at Blata l-Bajda, where the hawkers had been moved to, much against their will, from St James Ditch, will also be open for custom.

The Valletta market will now be open all days of the week, in Merchants and Old Theatre streets, from 7am to 2pm.

In his fairly long-winded statement, Dr Azzopardi said the Valletta monti has always been popular and attracts a large number of customers.

The Valletta market did not use to operate on Sundays – instead hawkers used to put up their stalls on Sundays at St James Ditch, where the Valletta bus depot is now operating.

Hawkers had not liked being moved to Blata l-Bajda and it is not known if they will still be allowed there on Sundays, but it is unlikely that the market area in Valletta, which is far more restricted, can accommodate them all.