Momentum files a complaint to the Ombudsman after Transport Malta does not issue a permit for a street banner

Momentum has asked the Ombudsman to investigate Transport Malta after the Authority failed, for more than two months, to issue or decide on a simple banner permit for an event. The free, public event is a focus group meeting called Vision Circle dedicated to the rights and dignity of animals, planned for this Saturday, 25th October.

Despite submitting all documents, photos and forms, and sending repeated follow-ups, Transport Malta gave contradictory instructions, refused to explain its rules, and then stopped replying altogether.

“This goes beyond a banner,” said Dr Matthew Agius, executive member of Momentum. “When authorities ignore requests, hide their rules and delay decisions, they silence democratic participation. Third-party political voices are being shut out through bureaucracy.”

The party argues that this is a clear case of bad administration and unequal treatment, noting that Transport Malta could not provide a legal clause banning political banners, could not provide a list of approved sites for banners, gave conflicting instructions, first involving Local Councils, then dismissing them and let the application “under review” with no response for weeks.

Momentum is calling for transparent rules, clear deadlines, and equal access for all political actors. Malta is currently full of government propaganda billboards, ready set for next week’s budget billboards.

Momentum is asking the Ombudsman to clarify the basic rights and procedures that Transport Malta has failed to define, specifically:

• The right to display political banners: Whether a political party has the legal right to install a banner or temporary sign to promote a political event.
• The competent authority: Whether permits are decided by Transport Malta, Local Councils, or another entity.
• The formal application procedure: What steps must be followed to legally obtain a banner permit?
• Timeframes: How long are authorities allowed to take to process and decide on applications?
• Approved locations: Whether an official list or map of permitted banner sites exists.
• Transparency and fairness: Whether a public register should exist to show which locations are available or already allocated.

“Silencing through bureaucracy is still silencing. Malta deserves a fair and open democracy where every voice can be heard,” added Dr Agius.

Momentum jressaq ilment lill-Ombudsman wara li Transport Malta ma toħroġx permess għal banner fit-triq

Momentum talab lill-Ombudsman biex jinvestiga lil Transport Malta wara li l-awtorità naqset, għal aktar minn xahrejn, milli toħroġ jew tiddeċiedi dwar permess sempliċi għal banner għal avveniment. L-avveniment pubbliku u bla ħlas huwa laqgħa ta’ fokus grupp imsejħa Vision Circle iddedikata għad-drittijiet u d-dinjità tal-annimali, ippjanata għal dan is-Sibt li ġej, 25 ta’ Ottubru.

Minkejja li Momentum ssottomettiet id-dokumenti, ir-ritratti u l-formoli kollha, u bagħtet tfakkiriet ripetuti, Transport Malta tat struzzjonijiet kontradittorji, irrifjutat li tispjega r-regoli tagħha, u mbagħad waqfet twieġeb għalkollox.

“Dan imur lil hinn minn banner,” qal Dr Matthew Agius, membru eżekuttiv ta’ Momentum. “Meta l-awtoritajiet jinjoraw it-talbiet, jaħbu r-regoli tagħhom u jdewmu d-deċiżjonijiet, huma jsikktu l-parteċipazzjoni demokratika. Ilħna politiċi ta’ partijiet terzi qed jiġu mitfija permezz tal-burokrazija.”

Momentum jargumenta li dan huwa każ ċar ta’ amministrazzjoni ħażina u trattament mhux ugwali, filwaqt li jinnota li Transport Malta ma setgħetx tipprovdi klawżola legali li tipprojbixxi banners politiċi, ma setgħetx tipprovdi lista ta’ siti approvati għal banners, tat struzzjonijiet konfliġġenti, li involvew lill-Kunsilli Lokali, imbagħad ċaħduhom u ħalliet l-applikazzjoni “taħt reviżjoni” mingħajr ebda tweġiba għal ġimgħat sħaħ.

Momentum qed jitlob regoli trasparenti, skadenzi ċari, u aċċess ugwali għall-partiti politiċi kollha. Malta bħalissa hija mimlija billboards ta’ propaganda tal-gvern, lesti għall-billboards tal-baġit tal-ġimgħa d-dieħla.

Momentum qed jitlob lill-Ombudsman biex jiċċara d-drittijiet u l-proċeduri bażiċi li Transport Malta naqset milli tiddefinixxi, speċifikament:

• Id-dritt li jintwerew banners politiċi: Jekk partit politiku għandux id-dritt legali li jinstalla banner jew sinjal temporanju biex jippromwovi avveniment politiku.
• L-awtorità kompetenti: Jekk il-permessi jiġux deċiżi minn Transport Malta, il-Kunsilli Lokali, jew entità oħra.
• Il-proċedura formali tal-applikazzjoni: Liema passi jridu jiġu segwiti biex jinkiseb legalment permess għal banner?
• Perjodi ta’ żmien: Kemm jistgħu idumu l-awtoritajiet biex jipproċessaw u jiddeċiedu dwar l-applikazzjonijiet?
• Postijiet approvati: Jekk teżistix lista uffiċjali jew mappa tas-siti tal-banners permessi.
• Trasparenza u ġustizzja: Jekk għandux jeżisti reġistru pubbliku li juri liema postijiet huma disponibbli jew diġà allokati.

“Is-silenzju permezz tal-burokrazija xorta jibqa’ silenzju. Malta jistħoqqilha demokrazija ġusta u miftuħa fejn kull leħen jista’ jinstema’,” żied jgħid Dr Agius.

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