Will the Ta' Qali Craft Village saga ever end? Most Craft Village operators have literally grown old waiting for this project to end. No, indeed, waiting for it to start. GRTU preserves the TA' QALI craft village file as the oldest file in action. It is incredible that this project started way back in the early 1990's following the Nationalist Party Electoral promise of 1987 which promise was regularly inserted in all succeeding PN electoral manifesto.
Craft village operators and GRTU representing them has endured the endless promises of succeeding Nationalist and Labour ministers. It all started with George Bonella Dupuis, then on to Wenzu Gatt and to John Dalli and on to John Attard Montaldo and to Joseph Bonnici and back to John Dalli and then the long years of Edwin Vassallo and now bang on the lap of Austin Gatt. It's really a small project compared to the many larger once that Austin Gatt faces. But it now deserves top priority; and please don't change the criteria. GRTU is not all too happy with the plans as they stand and would have preferred other more practical solutions. But time time is of the essence. No one can stomach any new change and any further delay.
The tender has long been issued and contractors have submitted theri bids GRTU is completely in the dark on this issue. Hopefully no one is hybernating or worst still cooking some new stew. We've had enough of the wise guys changing things as they step in the shoes of a some dim wit put aside… We now need to go on with it. Many old faces are in retirement as they've given up waiting. Younger elements at Ta' Qali remain optimistic. They all now expect Austin Gatt's recognised drive to be geared to their advantage and finally get the project implemented and concluded on target.
That's one celebration GRTU gladly looks forward to enjoy!