A poll on The Malta Independent website shows that the majority of our readers are against the relocation of the monti hawkers from their current position in Merchants Street to Ordnance Street in Valletta.

A staggering 88% of respondents voted against the move, while only seven per cent voted in favour. Five per cent replied that they were not interested in the subject.

The issue of the relocation has caused a furore among various individuals and organisations. Last week, V18 chairman Jason Micallef stated that despite his and other culture-related organisations' attempts for government to rope them in on the matter, they were not consulted before the government announced its plans on the relocation. He also stated that the upper part of Ordnance Street – near the new parliament building and the open-air theatre - should not be taken up by hawkers.

The minister responsible, Chris Cardona, has not ruled out that the whole street may be taken up by hawkers.