Touch of satire in carnival

Four personalities from the world of entertainment - Eileen Montesin, Peppi Azzopardi, Alfred Zammit and Hector Bruno - are to be part of a first attempt at reintroducing satire during carnival next month.

They will, however, be on the receiving end of the satire. Papier mache figures of them playing musical instruments will be the protagonists of King Carnival's band as it leads the rest of the floats in this annual celebration of colour and sound.

Satire aimed at politicians was once a normal part of carnival but all that has since changed: "We have to work to change the police regulations which prohibit satire of politicians," carnival organising committee chairman Ġorġ Zahra said.

"Whenever this is introduced, however, it has to be controlled to avoid a repeat of the 1937 events when the main focus of carnival were politicians and this resulted in trouble."

He said that as a start, four Maltese personalities were chosen to form part of the King Carnival float. The four were contacted and all felt honoured to have been chosen when told about the idea.

Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said carnival in Malta has been organised since 1535. There was a time when it was a big event in the three cities and when the Maltese, whatever their age, used to wear whatever they found in their wardrobe at this time and be merry.

Celebrations were now held mainly in Valletta and Victoria but other celebrations were being organised in Nadur and other localities. These local celebrations were being supported by the government.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that carnival was a tourist attraction and it was the biggest advert for the country. The event was promoted by the Malta Tourism Authority because the activities held in Malta were of a standard that could compete with those of other countries and to encourage tourists to join the Maltese in the merrymaking taking back home with them an experience of Maltese life during these festive days.

Carnival activities, the minister said, would not have been possible had it not been for the dedicated artists behind them.

Asked about plans to improve the facilities for carnival artists working at Lower Fort St Elmo, in Valletta, the minister said that the government was constantly helping and had even relocated some people to stores at Għammieri.

It was impossible to do everything at once but the government was constantly doing its utmost to continue improving the situation for all enthusiasts.

The Parliamentary Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Tonio Fenech said that the ministry was, through the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund, doing its utmost for these activities to be organised in the most professional way possible.

The need to increase investment in the cultural sector was felt this year so a financial contribution of €230,000 (Lm98,739) was given to the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts for the organisation of activities throughout the year.

Carnival this year includes the participation of the Dutch band WIJ uut Zender, street parades in Valletta and carnival by night. An exhibition will be mounted by the Youth Student Organisation.

Tickets can be bought online from www.maltaticket.com or from Exotique, Agenda, Bookends, NewsKiosk in Sliema and Vodafone. They can also be bought from the tickets kiosk at City Gate. Those buying tickets have a chance of winning holidays abroad or flight tickets.

Carnival activities are this year also being organised in Fgura, Kalkara, Qawra, Żabbar, Qormi, Naxxar, San Ġwann, Dingli, Marsaxlokk, St Julians, St Paul's Bay, the Splash and Fun Park, Mġarr, Għaxaq, Buġibba, Siġġiewi, Mosta, Mtarfa and Sta Luċija.

The official carnival activities in Valletta and Floriana start on February 1 at 11 a.m. with a parade by the Macedonian Gypsy Brass Bank in Merchants and Republic streets. Competitions start at 6 p.m. in Freedom Square, Valletta.

On February 2, the programme continues at 9.30 a.m. with children's carnival in Freedom Square. At 5.30 p.m. competitions continue with the defilé passing through Merchants, St John's and Republic streets going into Freedom Square.

Competitions and the defilé continue on February 3 from 2.30 p.m. and on February 4 there will be a defilé by WIJ uut Zender together with several dancing schools at 11 a.m.

Competitions continue in Freedom Square at 5.30 p.m.

On February 5, the last day of carnival, the Dutch band will again be playing in the morning.

The main defilé with the participation of King Carnival will start at 4 p.m. going through Merchants, St John and Republic streets to Freedom Square. At 6.30 p.m. the grand finale will take place in St Anne Street, Floriana.