BIG SHIPS IN ST MARK’S BASIN: GOVERNMENT SUMMIT ON 1 OCTOBER

There will be a special summit meeting of the Italian government on the question of big cruise ships sailing through St Mark’s Basin. The latest protests, also provocative, actually had an unhoped for result. The prime minister Enrico Letta has called a government summit for 1 October to be attended by the ministers Maurizio Lupi and Andrea Orlando. The aim of the prime minister and the summit is ‘to define ways in which to stop big ships sailing in front of Venice’. There are numerous alternative proposals on the table to remove these giants of the sea from St Mark’s Basin and the Giudecca Canal, which, in typical Venetian style, are often in conflict with one another, thus sparking heated debate and deep divisions in the political world and in public opinion. We shall see what decision will be taken. In any case, it must take into consideration the safeguarding of the city and the protection of jobs related to this market niche. It must be done quickly, as national and international public opinion urges a rapid decision