Il-GRTU titlob lil Gvern jiehu Azzjoni biex ma jibqghux jinghalqu toroq ghal kull okkazjoni

Il-GRTU titlob lil Gvern jiehu Azzjoni biex ma jibqghux jinghalqu toroq ghal kull okkazjoni

Il-GRTU titlob lil Gvern jiehu Azzjoni biex ma jibqghux jinghalqu toroq ghal kull okkazjoni

Il-GRTU illum talbet lill-Kap tal-Amministrazzjoni tal-Gvern biex jittiehdu passi biex timbidel il-policy prezenti dwar eghluq ta toroq u zoni kummercjali. Illum qed jigri li ghal kull okkazzjoni, hi x’inhi, jinghalqu toroq ewlenin u centri kummercjali shah, bla kunsiderazzjoni tal-impatt li dan l-eghluq qed ikollu fuq l-intraprizi u negozji. Dan meta l-ispejjez ta’ kera, pagi u spejjes ohra jibqghu ghaddejjien.

Kopja tal-ittra tal-GRTU lill-Ufficju tal-Prim Ministru:
7th October 2005
Dr Godwin Grima
Principal Permanent Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
Office of the Prime Minister
Auberge de Castille
Valletta CMR 02

Dear Dr Grima,
Festivities and Special Occasions
It is becoming a practice that the Police, Government Authorities and Local Authorities approve permission for the closure of main through roads, squares and zones in major commercial area for one or other activity without taking into consideration the impact on traffic and specifically the impact on retail and trading outlets in the effected areas. The total power of public bodies to exercise their rights irrespective of the commercial and economic damage consequent on their decision, today no longer apply. Authorities should be aware of all relevant EU rules and norms and of the rights of redress of effected parties.

GRTU is today ready to take legal action on behalf of the commercial community requesting the payment of damages when decisions are taken without prior consultations and agreement. Our colleagues in EuroCommerce advise us that they are willing to support us should we wish to raise this issue at EU Commission level.

Malta simply cannot pretend to continue to act in complete disregard of commercial and economic consequences. This issue becomes increasingly urgent as the CHOGM programme comes into action. The problem is particularly acute in the capital city Valletta. The situation cannot be tolerated any further that for any occasion whatsoever main areas are blocked for one parade, or occasion in complete disregard of commercial interest and very often for days without any effort whatsoever to minimize the damage or to find suitable alternatives. Valletta simply cannot cope with all the events imposed on it. Most of them can be done elsewhere with little or no damage to the commercial community.

Kindly call a round table meeting of experts to discuss this issue and produce remedial instructions.

I thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Vincent Farrugia
Director General.