The government is being inconsistent in the way it is dealing with the billboards and signage controversy, according to the GRTU, which is arguing that the government is adopting one stand for billboards on land while advocating a different approach to billboards floating on the sea.
Contacted by The Malta Independent, GRTU CEO Abigail Psaila Mamo (photo below) pointed out that as the authorities issued a new legal notice incorporating any type of advertisement on land, the news broke that Transport Malta will allow floating billboards to be set up on more than 40 beaches. The GRTU said that while it is not arguing in favour or against such advertisements, this new development gives a mixed message.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, the GRTU CEO said that while it was entering into negotiations with government over mass enforcement of a new legislation that appeared to be targeting a reduction of advertising on land, the government was in the same instance opening up to advertisement at sea.
As such, the GRTU said it was surprised when a few days after meeting with government officials they saw the article in The Malta Independent about the new floating billboards to be set up along Maltese beaches this summer.
"We had just met the government to discuss billboards, and then we saw the news about these new billboards. The government gave us the impression that one of the reasons why it had decided to introduce the new law was to create order and it indicated that it would be taking action so that the islands are not littered with advertising billboards. But at the same time, we suddenly learnt that several more billboards where being set in the previously unutilized sea. It simply does not add up."
GRTU said it feels the government is "sending a lot of mixed messages". Ms Psaila Mamo also complained that GRTU was never consulted about this new initiative. She however welcomed government's approach in that it is to enter into a six-week consultation over the newly-set and controversial legal notice.
Meanwhile, billboard suppliers who spoke with this newsroom expressed their anger toward the authorities since they said they had "no clue about the expression of interest" to set up billboards at sea. When contacted, Transport Malta had explained that four companies were selected after an expression of interest which was issued in September of 2015.
"First they slapped us with enforcement notices and fines to control abuse, and now the same authorities decide to move in a completely different direction."
Petition to be presented to Transport Malta
The story revealed by The Malta Independent regarding the setting up of floating billboards in Malta's pristine beaches, blazed the trail for public outcry criticising the setting up of floating billboards in local beaches.
This newsroom revealed how Transport Malta had over 40 beaches around Malta, Gozo and Comino earmarked for this new advertising initiative.
Following Monday's story, a petition was set up to be presented to Transport Malta. The petition is dubbed "Stop Floating Billboards from being set up" and by the time this article was written, it already had more than 1,400 signatures.
According to the petition, "floating billboards in Maltese beaches, both those for swimmers and otherwise, will prove to be an eyesore in our beautiful beaches and that these billboards will ruin the beautiful views and serenity of our beaches."
Outraged Maltese citizens who would like to enjoy at the beach without a bombardment from billboards advertising all sorts of stuff, also turned to Facebook and created a page called 'Protect Malta's Beaches: Boycott Floating Billboard Companies'.
TMI accused of 'creating bad publicity and damage to us and country for no reason'
A company that provides such billboards contacted this newsroom complaining that the photo we used in the original story was not realistic, and accused the paper of having created an incorrect 'mock-up'.
This newspaper, however, had used the exact photo from the newsletter which is being distributed to promote the billboards at sea.
The company claims that the billboards "are made with good finishes and are pleasing to the eye". It accused this newsroom of "creating bad publicity and damage to us and country for no reason".
Replying to questions sent by this newspaper, a spokesperson for MEPA said that the billboards would require permission "in view of the setting up of an advertisement which is not exempt from the requirement to obtain permission. In addition, depending on the type of anchorage used and the seabed to be affected, permission could also be required for the works."
The companies which were chosen to supply the floating billboards are Mad Promotions Limited, Marketing Innovations Malta Ltd, Daniel Zerafa and T Print Limited. These names appear published in the Transport Malta media library website.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1TfzOtz
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment