On today’s front page, this newspaper published a story about the much talked about, but yet to materialise Monti stall designs.

After the original Knight’s Cross design was binned, the government organised  competition to try and find something more suitable. What is published on the front page is still a concept design, but looks quite eye-catching and smart, similar to what one would find in most other markets of note around the world – cue Krakow, Spittalfields, Borough markets, Rome, Berlin... the list goes on and on.

But somehow, it seems that the government has baulked at the idea of adopting the design which won the competition. And now, the ideal of mechanised stalls in the form of half a Maltese bus is being mooted.

First off, the Maltese bus is no longer. The iconic yellow and orange converted flat-bed trucks no longer circle around Malta, they are no longer part of this country’s identity. And it has to be said, the design of the ‘bus’ stall looks a bit like the cheap and tacky key chains and fridge magnet that sit on row after row in the bucket shops in tourist areas.

Moreover, the vast majority of people who have commented on our online comments section are in agreement, they are not liked and the general consensus is that they look cheap and tacky. Some might argue that given the quality (or lack thereof) of the wares that are peddled will make the ‘bus’ design look even worse... think undies and cheap teeshirts.

Malta has always been quite quirky in that respect. In situations where we need something a bit grandiose, we seem to fall a bit short, a bit underwhelming, in fact. But, in a situation like this, when something simple, yet tasteful and complementing to the surroundings is needed, we somehow come up with garish and outlandish designs that just befuddle the mind and leave you wondering how it could have even been considered in the first place.

Monti hawkers themselves have also spoken out against the ‘bus’ design, saying that they much prefer the wooden one that won the competition. Also, the question must also be asked; What is the point of organising a competition to design new stalls, even going as far as giving the winners €5,000 in prize money, to then begin considering others?

Valletta is due to become the European City of Culture in 2018, yet we do not seem to be able to marry the practical and the cultural aspects. The government has said that it is still considering all options. But the fundamental issue here is that a winning design was chosen; one that was fitting for the surroundings and one that seemed to win the approval of Monti hawkers, and from what we have deduced from our comments section, the general public. So why tinker? Why meddle? Why procrastinate? Take the winning design and implement the construction of the stalls and give Valletta some dignity. A key-chain like half bus contraption definitely does not fit the bill and is not fitting with V18, or Valletta in any other way.