I refer to Mr Ray Mangion's letter (The Sunday Times, October 24). The choice of singers does not lie with the Nationalist Party but with the composers/authors of the songs.

It is correct to state that, due to bad weather, the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza had to be postponed.

On October 6 I wrote to all the composers and authors proposing the alternative date of November 6. This was followed-up by a phone call the day after. All the recipients of the letter were authorised to change the singers should any of them find difficulty in participating on the new date. The choice of singers lay entirely with these composers/authors.

It is obvious that the three singers Mr Mangion referred to freely chose to take part in the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza.