Reference is made to the article published on timesofmalta.com, ‘Meeting paves the way for noise-free Holy Week processions‘.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, and the Commissioner for Environment and Planning, Perit Alan Saliba, welcome the stop-gap measure to prevent disruption caused by catering establishments during the Holy Week ceremonies in Valletta following a high-level meeting of all relevant entities to prevent a recurrence of last year’s events.

The Office of the Ombudsman has been actively addressing the concerns arising from the operation of these establishments. Recognising the impact of last year’s disturbances and other related inconveniences throughout the year, a proactive approach was adopted to ensure such events did not recur. A meeting was sought with the concerned public entities to discuss permanent solutions.

On 10 July 2023, the Ombudsman and the Commissioner requested a meeting with critical entities, including the Planning Authority, Lands Authority, Transport Malta, and the Malta Tourism Authority. However, on 5 July, the Office of the Ombudsman was informed by the CEOs of these entities about ongoing technical meetings aimed at finding a balanced solution that respects both public interest and the needs of the catering businesses. The entities requested to postpone the meeting to allow these discussions to mature into a concrete proposal. As a gesture of goodwill, the Ombudsman agreed to reschedule the meeting for 8 August. Further communication on 28 July 2023 suggested progress, leading to another postponement to the end of September for stakeholder consultations.

By 28 September 2023, the CEOs provided an update on their discussions, which included permit assessments for outdoor dining on Merchant Street, changes to waste collection times, and strategies to regulate noise from catering businesses. They also mentioned upcoming comprehensive plans for Valletta and Marsaxlokk.

In response, the Ombudsman scheduled a follow-up meeting for 14 November 2023, giving the entities sufficient time to finalise their proposal. However, the Principal Permanent Secretary requested more time on 15 November 2023. As of today, the Office of the Ombudsman is still awaiting the draft policy proposal.

The Ombudsman emphasises that procrastination on critical enforcement issues will not achieve a fair and appropriate balance. A lack of enforcement leads to widespread abuse, exceeding the bounds of good order and governance. The Ombudsman and the Commissioner urge the identification of a long-term solution.