Valletta Music Law Looks Very Much Like A Pre-Election Backroom Deal, Minority Leader Warns
A legal notice that allows several Valletta establishments to keep the music on until 1am appears to be the result of a pre-electoral backroom deal, the town’s minority leader Christian Micallef said.
“It is very clear to me that this was the result of a pre-electoral compromise,” Micallef told Lovin Malta. “The PL never mentioned it prior to the election but implemented it hush-hush afterwards without any consultation, showing that it was the result of a compromise.”
“The government has a massive majority and thinks it has the power to do whatever it wants, without any PL MPs or councillors speaking out against it.”
Valletta has transformed into a popular nightlife hub in recent years and its addition to the music exemption list, which also includes Paceville, Buġibba and Qawra, appears to be an acknowledgement by the authorities of its newfound status.
However, it has proven to be controversial among Valletta residents, with a 59-year-old woman telling Lovin Malta that she has grown to dislike jazz due to the regular live street music that plays as she is trying to sleep. PN MP Darren Carabott has also filed a parliamentary motion calling for the revocation of the legal notice.
However, Prime Minister Robert Abela recently told Illum that he has no intention of revoking the legal notice as he believes “a balance has already been struck”.
No PL MPs or PL Valletta councillors have spoken out against the legal notice, with Micallef questioning whether their allegiance is to residents or their political party.
Micallef described this legal notice as the worst controversy to have hit the Valletta local council this legislature and questioned whether mayor Alfred Zammit and the other PL councillors are in favour or against it.
“I feel that in a normal country it would be obvious for all councillors to at least show some sensitivity to residents and speak out in favour of them,” he said, contrasting Zammit’s attitude with that of Pembroke mayor Dean Hili’s public opposition to the db Group’s City Centre project despite his party being in government.
Valletta mayor Alfred Zammit
Micallef encouraged residents to attend a Valletta council meeting that has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon to make their voices heard about this legal notice.
“There is a lot of anger among Valletta residents,” Micallef said. “Many people won’t protest because they support the PL or because they don’t want people to know they were there, but they are encouraging us to continue in this battle in favour of what is right.”
“We hope the local council will take a position in favour of revoking the legal notice before commencing discussions with the authorities about it. What is the point of a local council if it isn’t even consulted about these things?”
Do you agree with this legal notice?
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