Sliema Ticket Kiosk Encroachment: Malta Deserves a Parliament that Defends Residents, Pedestrians, Families and Honest Businesses

Momentum has pointed out the latest developments regarding the illegal ticket booths in Sliema as yet another blatant example of how both the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party continue to pander to powerful commercial interests at the expense of ordinary residents, law-abiding businesses, and the rule of law.

Commenting on reports that enforcement action against illegal ticket booths has been placed on hold just a few days before the general elections, Momentum Chairperson and 9th and 10th District candidate Arnold Cassola said that this episode exposes “the hypocrisy and cowardice of Malta’s two-party establishment.”

“Ordinary citizens are expected to obey the law, yet when influential commercial operators illegally occupy public pavements and obstruct residents and pedestrians, both the Labour Government and the Nationalist-led Sliema Local Council suddenly discover flexibility and understanding,” said Cassola.

Momentum noted that public pavements and spaces belong to the people and not to private operators seeking to maximise profits through illegal encroachment. The party stressed that law-abiding businesses who respect regulations are being unfairly undermined by authorities who repeatedly tolerate abuse and illegality for political convenience.

Professor Pierre Schembri Wismayer, Momentum candidate for the 10th District, said the situation has become symbolic of a wider national problem.

“In Malta today, if you are politically connected, rules become optional. Residents, elderly persons, parents with pushchairs, and persons with disability are forced to navigate pavements blocked by illegal structures while authorities look the other way. This is unacceptable in any serious democracy,” said Schembri Wismayer.

“The PN pretends to oppose abuse while simultaneously controlling local councils that tolerate and facilitate it. The PL speaks about enforcement while continuously protecting vested interests. They are two sides of the same coin,” Cassola added.

Momentum reiterated that meaningful change will only occur when Maltese voters elect a credible third party to Parliament capable of delivering a political shock to the system.

“Only the election of independent and principled third-party representatives can break the stranglehold of the PLPN duopoly. Malta needs a Parliament that represents residents, pedestrians, families and honest businesses, not one permanently captured by developers and commercial lobbyists,” Momentum concluded.

L-Abbuż tal-Kjosks tal-Biljetti f’Tas-Sliema: Malta Jistħoqqilha Parlament li Jiddefendi lir-Residenti, lill-Pedestrians, lill-Familji u lin-Negozji Onesti

Momentum tefa’ lenti fuq l-aħħar żviluppi relatati mal-kjosks illegali tal-bejgħ tal-biljetti f’Tas-Sliema bħala eżempju ieħor ċar ta’ kif il-Partit Laburista kif ukoll il-Partit Nazzjonalista jibqgħu jċedu quddiem interessi kummerċjali b’saħħithom għad-detriment tar-residenti, tan-negozji li jimxu mal-liġi u tal-istat tad-dritt.

B’reazzjoni għar-rapporti li l-azzjoni ta’ infurzar kontra dawn il-kjosks illegali twaqqfet ftit ġranet qabel l-elezzjoni, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Momentum u kandidat fuq id-9 u l-10 Distrett Arnold Cassola qal li dan il-każ jesponi “l-ipokresija u l-kodardija tas-sistema politika tal-PLPN.”

“Iċ-ċittadini ordinarji huma mistennija jobdu l-liġi, iżda meta operaturi kummerċjali influwenti jokkupaw illegalment il-bankini u jostakolaw lir-residenti u lill-pubbliku, kemm il-Gvern Laburista kif ukoll il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Tas-Sliema mmexxi mill-PN f’daqqa waħda jsibu flessibbiltà u ftehim,” qal Cassola.

Momentum enfasizza li l-bankini u l-ispazji pubbliċi huma tal-poplu u mhux ta’ operaturi privati li jridu jimmassimizzaw il-profitti tagħhom permezz ta’ abbużi illegali. Il-partit sostna li negozji li jirrispettaw ir-regolamenti qed jiġu żvantaġġjati minn awtoritajiet li kontinwament jittolleraw l-illegalità għal konvenjenza politika.

Il-Professur Pierre Schembri Wismayer, kandidat ta’ Momentum fuq l-10 Distrett, qal li s-sitwazzjoni saret simbolu ta’ problema nazzjonali ferm usa’.

“F’Malta llum, jekk għandek konnessjonijiet politiċi, ir-regoli jsiru fakultattivi. Residenti, anzjani, ġenituri bil-pushchairs u persuni b’diżabilità qed jiġu mġiegħla jgħaddu minn bankini mblukkati minn strutturi illegali filwaqt li l-awtoritajiet jagħlqu għajnejhom. Dan hu inaċċettabbli f’demokrazija serja,” qal Schembri Wismayer.

“Il-PN jippretendi li huwa kontra l-abbużi filwaqt li fl-istess ħin jikkontrolla kunsilli lokali li jittollerawhom u jiffaċilitawhom. Il-PL jitkellem dwar infurzar filwaqt li kontinwament jipproteġi interessi stabbiliti. Huma żewġ naħat tal-istess munita,” żied Cassola.

Momentum reġgħet sostniet li bidla vera tista’ sseħħ biss jekk il-poplu Malti jeleġġi it-tielet partit fil-Parlament sabiex jingħata xokk politiku lis-sistema.

“Huwa biss permezz tal-elezzjoni ta’ rappreżentanti indipendenti u bi prinċipji sodi li jista’ jinkiser il-monopolju tal-PLPN. Malta għandha bżonn Parlament li jirrappreżenta lir-residenti, lill-pedestrians, lill-familji u lin-negozji onesti, mhux Parlament maħkum mill-iżviluppaturi u l-lobby kummerċjali,” temm jgħid Momentum.

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