Valletta local council to present by-law regulating commercial activities during processions

During a late-evening meeting held by the Valletta local council on Monday (yesterday), the city’s Mayor, Alfred Zammit announced that a by-law will be presented which seeks to regulate commercial activity during processions held in the country’s capital.

The announcement comes after the organisers of Valletta’s Holy Week called on authorities to issue assurances that the disruptions which took place during their processions held during Our Lady of Sorrows on 31st March, Maundy Thursday on 6th April and Good Friday on 7th April would not repeat themselves.

During the events, catering establishments had their tables strewn along Merchant Street with music playing loudly.

After the first incident, the event’s organisers sent an email to the police and the Lands Authority, the body responsible for issuing permits, to report the breach in regulations.

The police had confirmed that the breach did indeed occur and that no enforcement officers were on site. Despite calls from the police for the Lands Authority to act, enforcement officers were still missing in subsequent events.

The mayor said that the local council is not against commercial activity but called on the business community to cooperate in protecting religious heritage.

To that end Mr Zammit said that he will be presenting a by-law which will regulate commercial activity when it comes to the setup of catering fixtures before and after every procession and will also control the music played by establishments during that time.

“The purpose of the regulations is to strengthen the laws already in place,” read the mayor’s statement.