Boatmen’s Turmoil: Unlicensed Group ‘Regulating’ Sector in Valletta’s Grand Harbour

Imagine this: you’re a boatman, plying your trade in the bustling Grand Harbour of Valletta, Malta’s historic capital. You’ve got your licence, you’ve paid your dues, and you’re out there, rain or shine, earning an honest living. Now, picture this: an unregistered group starts dictating rules, issuing fines, and even seizing boats. This isn’t a scene from a pirate movie; it’s happening right here, right now, in our backyard.

An Unseen Hand on the Tiller

Meet ‘The Association’, a group of boatmen who’ve taken it upon themselves to regulate the sector. They’ve been around for a few years, but recently, their activities have escalated. They’ve started issuing fines, sometimes as high as €500, for perceived violations. They’ve even been known to seize boats, leaving boatmen high and dry, literally.

But here’s the kicker: The Association isn’t registered with the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA). They’re not recognised by the government. So, who gave them the right to act as the sector’s regulator? And why are boatmen, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet, paying heed?

Voices from the Harbour

We spoke to several boatmen, all of whom wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. “They come, they fine us, they take our boats,” one boatman told us, his voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t afford to fight them. We’ve got families to feed.”

Another boatman, a veteran of the Grand Harbour, was more vocal. “This is our livelihood, our life. We’ve got no say in what’s happening. It’s like we’re being held hostage.” He pointed to a boat moored nearby, its owner nowhere to be seen. “That boat’s been seized. The owner’s trying to get it back, but he’s up against a wall.”

The MMA’s Stance

The MMA, when contacted, was quick to distance itself from The Association. “We’re aware of their activities,” a spokesperson told us. “We’re looking into the matter. We want to remind everyone that only the MMA has the authority to regulate the sector.”

But boatmen we spoke to aren’t holding their breath. “We’ve been hearing that for years,” one said. “Meanwhile, The Association is still out there, still fining us, still seizing boats.”

So, where does this leave Malta’s boatmen? In limbo, it seems. Caught between an unregistered group claiming to regulate their sector and a government agency that’s yet to rein them in. It’s a situation that’s leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of those who’ve dedicated their lives to the sea.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Boatmen we spoke to are rallying. They’re organising, they’re planning. They’re ready to fight back. “We’re not going to take this lying down,” one boatman told us. “This is our harbour, our livelihood. We’re not going to let some unregistered group dictate our lives.”

As for The Association, they declined to comment. Their silence speaks volumes. But it’s a silence that’s unlikely to last. The storm in the Grand Harbour is far from over.