Parish priests concerned over Msida road closure

Joseph E Briffab

Jul 12th 2008, 10:22

How much longer are we to put up with this thing? For eleven years the authorities have approved the request to close the Regional Road to traffic to enable the letting off of fireworks. This is sheer selfishness on the part of the Msida feast organisers. Mater Dei hospital is just a few 100 metres away, if that, and the ear-deafining noises of the petards surely do not make the life of patients less miserable. Don't we have any concern for these people who are already suffering enough in hospital; do we have to increase their agony while we celebrate a religious feast supposedly to honour St Joseph? Why can't they do away with the petards and have a land display with the Irdieden and some musketterija from the church's roof top? WHY SHOULD WE GIVE IN TO THE ARROGANCE OF ONE MAN -VINCE AZZOPARDI? Does this man dictate matters to everybody? Who does he think he is? I hope that common sense prevails and the authorities decline the request for the firing of petards and for the closure of the Regional Road.

P. Busuttil

Jul 12th 2008, 03:38

@D. Mangion you are perfectly right, what amuses me is that these people who post against external celebrations should be the first to take part in the religious celebrations that are held in the church. Wishful thinking "Insara ta' l-isem"
However Mr. Azzopardi's attitude is to be condemned, Regional Road must be kept opened at all times.

About those posting against feasts they are just selfish persons, because they hate these feasts they find all sort of excuses from the dog terrified from fireworks to the scantly dressed people during the band march. Conveniently they forget when the dog annoys the neighbourhood when left alone or else they are not scandalized when girls in bikinis stroll through our streets as if they are on the beach. They are not scandilized when fireworks are let off on Year's Eve (for example) they conveniently forget about the dog !!! They are not ashamed at the mess they left "Il-Fossos" after the MTV concert. It took a week for the nasty smells to go away.
It's really ironic how tourists appreciate our festas while certain maltese don't and please stop playing the saintly christians "Biex Tiskongra Trid Tkun Pur!"

Ronald Bowman

Jul 12th 2008, 02:39

@ D. Mangion

I agree with Adrian Camilleri's remarks. Your comments are senseless and totally irrelevant.

The main issues here are:
1. The importance of having total an unhindered access to the Hospital 24X7. This is a question of life or death.
2. The inconvenience and hardship fireworks cause to the Hospital patients and nearby residents.

I like fireworks, but I make a distinction between land fireworks and colourful rockets on the one hand and the senseless pettards or Bangers (tal-bomba) on the other. If anyone appreciates these bangers, then I can only say "little things please little minds"

@ Stephen Mifsud.

Surely you could appreciate that 3 1/2 hours is not a short time. It is definitely enough to prevent a patient from receiving medical attention in time to save his/her life.

Adrian Camilleri

Jul 11th 2008, 17:05

@D. Mangion

None of your points make sense to me.

1. Because in here we're talking about an important road WHICH TAKES YOU to our only HOSPITAL.

2. Kirkop and Valletta etc. are near the Hospital ?

3. You have other options. You're just being selfish. Period.

@C.Borg

Just read what I wrote once again for your sake. I said ban the band club from the feast, not the feast, if they really believe in what their President said.

PAMELA HANSEN

Jul 11th 2008, 16:55

D. Mangion has given an impressive list of what disruption to our lives we have to put up with. The fireworks are the cherry on the cake. But he is right that it is not only fireworks that are making a lot of money for some well-connected people.

D.MANGION

Jul 11th 2008, 13:17

1-During the Isle of MTV concert a good chunk of Floriana was closed to traffic.
2-Carnival time. Impossible for an ambulance to reach any sick person residing in Merchant's street /Republic street. St. Anne street (on the Grand Finale days)
3-Regional road closed to traffic. Causes problem to people on their way to Paceville. Which incidentally is also closed to traffic.
4-Classic cars grand Prix- Valletta closed to traffic.
5-Airshow- Hal Farrug area. Total jam.
4-(to all overseas bloggers) Football matches in most of your major cities. Traffic diversions, delays, closure of roads, police in guerilla outfits. Would you dare to stop it all? No.
5-Mass meetings in several parts of Malta during election time. Traffic diversions galore. Several streets closed to traffic. Most of you commenting, would be there clapping your hands. YOU BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES !
Why don't you admit it. You just hate fireworks. I just hope that none of you organises the "Maltese festa night tours" for tourists and earns good money out of the voluntary work of these enthusiasts. Why don't you be coherent with your acts. Don't bring tourists to our festas. Come on..kill this huge tourist attraction!

C borg

Jul 11th 2008, 11:58

So how come we close roads when other feast are celebrated and we can't close this road for less than 4 hours in 1 whole year to celebrate the Msida feast? People using the hospital are still at our hearts, and everyone knows there are alternative routes to go to hospital.

@Adrian camilleri - why do you want to ban this feast? Just becuase you don;t like this feast?

michael catania

Jul 11th 2008, 11:23

Although I totally disagree with V.Azzopardi's arrogant comments, may I point out that a number of roads are forever being closed by building contractors with the erection of cranes, making acess to emergency vehicles a near impossibility. These roads are not closed for a day or two but for months if not years. I pity people living in such streets/roads if ever they need an ambulance or other emergency services.

DVella

Jul 11th 2008, 11:01

No Mister DeGiorgio, actually they are not. Proper regulation and control does not consist of merely expressing concern in a news article. The fact that most of our village festas still make the lives of several thousand people hell is testimony to the fact that even the ecclesiastical authorities need to pull their socks up. Oh, and I was not lambasting them, merely pointing out a recurrent deficit in their addressing some of their responsibilities. The parish priest in Paola cancelled the village festa some years back when the two rival band clubs, one of which was not recognised by the parish, got into serious altercations between themselves and the parish aithorities. So there is certainly more muscle that the said authorities can bring to bear so that these obsessed fanatics are brought into line and start to behave in a manner which befits their association with christian activities and takes account of the fact that a vast number of people do not enjoy repeated blasts rattling their windows and uncontrolled revelry in the streets of the towns and villages!

Eric Psaila

Jul 11th 2008, 10:25

Well done for this statement. I am sure many people were waiting anxiously for it. Please do more than this.
It is high time that the Church puts its foot down with respect to outdoor festivites.
Why do we have to endure all this pagan behaviour in our streets if you happen to be unlucky enough to live in a street where "THE MARC" passes particularly that of Sunday mornings.
I accept this " MARC " as long as the people participating do not get drunk, refrain from swearing, and that people dress descently and by these I mean both men and women.
Furthermore insults aimed at supporters of an opposing Parish are also a no go.
I do appreciate that this is a very delicate matter but we have to follow St. Paul's example and say things people do not like to hear. We hope to hear more comments on this subject in the form of a pastoral letter by the bishops for starters albeit this is not enough. We want action not just words.

H Farrugia

Jul 11th 2008, 10:14

Stephan Strijbosch (17 hours, 58 minutes ago)
Closing the Regional road for a bunch of idiotic fireworks is as clever as closing off the airport for the same reason, but hey, this is Malta, and common sense sometimes gets sent where the sun dont shine.

bryan sullivan

Jul 11th 2008, 09:53

so ok all.....st joseph just phoned and let me know that this year he would be content if the fireworks let off in his honour - preferably pretty please just coloured ones with no big bang bangs - would be shot off into the dark blue skies from a barge in msida creek. he fails to understand why this suggestion is being ignored. can anyone please let him know the reason for this. st joseph can be reached on his mobile phone whilst driving his chitty chitty bang bang. alternately kindly contact the msida parish priest who is acting on his behalf.

Scicluna Victor

Jul 11th 2008, 06:32

First it was 20,000 hunters against the rule of law and the government made the law rule. Now it's 20 fire-crazy persons against the rule of commonsense and the majority. Will any law rule them? If the road gets closed, then I'll go and meet St Joseph in Kalkara.

Ronald Bowman

Jul 11th 2008, 04:44

Mr Azzopardi should be ashamed of himself. He has dishonoured Msida and even more so his Band Club. He should resign. I reside very close to the fields used for letting off the pettards and believe me THEY MAKE YOU JUMP even when you are expecting them. How can the authorities allow that they are let off so close to our national hospital with almost 1,000 patients, the majority of whom are in pain awaiting or recovering from surgery? What about the new-born babies and children? Surely their well-being and needs take priority over the fanatic needs of the few. Besides, how can the authorities guarantee that ambulances have free access to and from MDH if they get stuck in traffic jams blocking the access roads waiting for the by-pass to be re-opened? Furthermore, only a handfull of patients are taken to hospital by ambulances. The vast majority, including expectant mothers, are taken directly in private cars. These will surely get stuck in traffic jams. I have experienced these jams in trying to return home. Who will be accountable for any serious or even fatal mishaps to these poor patients or expectant mothers? The Police and the Band Club committee?

James De Giorgio

Jul 10th 2008, 22:33

Actually D Vella, the ecclesiastical authorities (in this case the parish priests) are doing their job and are insisting on proper regulation and control. I mean it's even in the title, how could you lambast them that way? Read the article again. You'll see what I mean.

JOHN SCERRI

Jul 10th 2008, 21:59

Dear Parish priests ,
How about concern over (tal -Bomba) fireworks going off at 8.00am in what you call Festa week?
How about concern over Church Bells tolling from early in the morning on Festa weekend and Festa day with no respect for the sick , those parents who spent the whole night awake to see to their babies and workers who ended a whole night shift and use the day for rest and some sleep?
How about concern over some 'Hamalli Festa Marches' starting at 1100 ending at 1500 hrs in the afternoon - the peak time people take their afternoon rest? What you see in the streets is drunks, half or nearly naked youngsters boys and girls alike ,having an out door buzz of binch drinking in the name of a christian festa and yet you let it be. Same goes to kumitati tal festa.
How about concern on many old fashioned so called customs which have deteriorated into pagan culture mixed into the so called christian tradition excuse in the name of a patron saint's statue?
The religious aspect of it all has gone down the drain and Sodoma and Gomorra have risen again dear Parish Priests.

Dennis Zammit

Jul 10th 2008, 21:30

Why should one town paralize the country just to let off fireworks and now near the central hospital. What about the patients at Mater Dei? The police should refuse the permit for large fireworks which need the main road to be closed. It would be shameful that we have not learned anything in these years that every request for a permit should also take into consideration 3rd party rights!!!!

DVella

Jul 10th 2008, 21:20

Christian MY FOOT!! Please someone illuminate us on what is so christian about making other people's life hell for a whole weekend (and intermittently during the previous week) with a cacaphony of infernal blasts which drive some people to distraction, scare our children make the lives of the elderly and the sick even more miserable than they already are and litter the surrounding countryside with all manner of half burnt and smouldering debris! On top of it all they want to close an important arterial road just to indulge in their favourite obsession?? That REALLY takes the biscuit !! This selfish attitude of fireworks and festa fanatics is far from exemplary of the christian faith and if we're meant to believe that it is some sort of demonstration of devotion to the local saint . . . . well, I don't think anybody is impressed!! Celebrate your feasts all you like but stop making our lives hell and putting thousands of people through needless inconvenience! This does not apply to Msida alone incidentally. It is high time both the state and the ecclesiastical authorities do their job and insist on proper regulation and control!

salvu mizzi

Jul 10th 2008, 21:06

pls let us celebrate feast like other parish.we are praying to close the street of st venera by pass and not b kara by pass.give us another alternitve place where we shoot fireworks and we go there.we are responsable more then all of you thing.thats why this year we pray to close the road only on saturday 19 th july from 21.30pm till 23.00pm.and on sunday 20 th july from 19.00 to 20.00 and from 21.00 to 22.00pm.if we are incompetence we want all the time that we have in the past years.

Adrian Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 19:32

Camenzuli, you're defending the undefendable.

It's not an excuse any more, that ''ghal gieh San Guzepp'' we should close such an important road for this country citizens.

Surely, San Guzepp is neither pleased with the band club President nor with any lame excuses you're coming up with.

Christian Camenzuli

Jul 10th 2008, 19:07

I excuse myself with the very wise people commenting here. police authorities are looking for people like you to fill the posts and make the country run smoothly.

I excuse myself in the name of many musicians who saw their beginning in band clubs, in the name of many artists who were it not for the commissions they get for festas they would not be able to survive their art as full time and in the name of many passionate people.


you do realize, oh wise people, that we should stop doing mass meetings and mass concerts not to close any streets.

whoever attends these festivities knows that ambulances are always accommodated!! if you don't attend, then well you should start!!!

culture is never appreciated by philistines! i shall stop here... as a great man once said: minn jrid, ha jisma!

J. Tonna

Jul 10th 2008, 18:00

It seems that Mr Azzopardi is not hoping for a long life. Besides that I wonder how long he is going to be left as president of the Band Club, if its members are more mature than him.

PAMELA HANSEN

Jul 10th 2008, 17:35

The College of Parish Priests needs to do much more than express concern and condemn Mr Azzopardi's comments. How will it react if the authorities give the permit to close the road for the feast?
I still have had no response to my emails from the police or the relevant ministers on whether the permit will be granted following Mater Dei's superintendent, Dr Bartolo's, comments that closing the road would put people at risk, saying "How can you close the one and only major artery leading to hospital?"
Will the College stop the feast from going ahead if it is granted. Parish priests have done this in the past when there were disputes between band clubs. This is much more serious.
In the meantime, Mr Stephen Mifsud has now given us all advance warning. Please ensure no one has an accident or require emergency treatment at Mater Dei on Saturday 19th July from 21.30 to 23.00 and on Sunday 20th July from 19.00 to 20.00pm and 21.00 till 22.00. Make sure you crash, or have a heart attack, or stroke precisely between 20.00 and 21.00 on Sunday.

Adrian Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 17:19

Just ban the said club from their feast. As simple as that.

Bilmod, over his dead body hey, Tyson in persona!

Anne Marie Kissaun

Jul 10th 2008, 16:58

If the Parish Priest of Msida is so concerned, why doesn't he do something about it in conjunction with the Government, Police and if necessary the Archbishop. This has been a sore point for so long and nothing is being done to find a solution. Mr. Azzopardi's arrogance is beyond one's comprehension, very unchristian, and needs a thorough mouthwash.!!!!! to say the least. It's enough that we have to cope with the Petards and the noise which is another nuisance to all and sundry. In my opinion, there should only be a procession which the village or town is celebrating. It also seems ridiculous that people have to get drunk on such occasions and swear like troopers to the extent of using the name of Our Lady or even the name of the Saint whose feast is being celebrated. Please find a solution in order to keep health and safety a priority for one and all and tradition at the same time.

Stephan Strijbosch

Jul 10th 2008, 16:10

Closing the Regional road for a bunch of idiotic fireworks is as clever as closing off the airport for the same reason, but hey, this is Malta, and common sense sometimes gets sent where the sun dont shine. I really wouldnt be surprised if the road does get closed again, since nothing on this Island surprises me much anymore, but hey, were all proud of being Maltese aren't we? ;)

Ejja guys let them close the road! if theres an emergency we can always use the helicopter service. Austin Gatt said that our petrol prices were amongst the lowest in europe, why not show it off some more?? Plus, I really look forward to being stuck in the traffic for a few hours in the heat. It becomes all worthwhile when i feel the air shuddering from the petards, I mark the Regional Road closing in my calender on purpose for that.

Peter Green

Jul 10th 2008, 15:37

Parish priests need to take action to control the feast paganism like what Jesus did to the temple merchants not just playing lip service. The traditional feasts are meant to honour the patron saints. Feasts are now big business around the village church. Fireworks are sponsored by banda clubs because the business they have through them.

I wonder what Jesus will do to the Maltese Temple Merchants and the banda clubs if he was here especially if they want to close the main hospital road for their business!

J. Borg

Jul 10th 2008, 14:32

Maybe the college of Parish Priests and the Church leaders would finally realise that apart from being a nightmare for the sick, elderly, children, and babies (both born and on the way) - the noisy fireworks, are also despised by most members of the public - who more likely than not, may be having their eternal salvation threatened by being induced to accompany each salute, which blasts their ears and resounds in their chests, with typical colourful blasphemies….Amen!

p.piscitelli

Jul 10th 2008, 14:18

the village feast is an old tradition that should go on,but using some common sense.we must realise that time changed everything.people go around all year round now .not only when the feast i s around ,people move every day from a village to another so the traffic is a lot more heavy.i think that it's about time that feasts are held in secondary streets and not in main roads .

v. borg

Jul 10th 2008, 14:13

@ Mr. Christian Camenzuli. The fact that these' poor souls' dedicate their free time to manufacture explosives in honor of whatever saint is beside the point. No one asks them to do it and it doesn't give them the right to make the feast their own playground to the detrement of everyone else. You should be competent enough to conclude that an arterial road leading to the only hospital on the island should not be closed so that some fanatic (that is the conclusion many people arrived at when they read Vince Azzopardi's statement) can have his bit of fun. finally, no one is trying to destroy our traditions exept those who by their irresponsible action are giving a bad name to supposidly Christian festivities.

Maurice Schembri

Jul 10th 2008, 14:01

Every now and then, the St.Joseph Band Club organises a Car Wash wek-end with the proceeds going to the said club.
From now on, if Vince Azzopardi remains president of this band club, I will not make use of this charity event.
When are we going to get rid of these persons once and for all?

stephen mifsud

Jul 10th 2008, 13:36

these are the hours propesed to close the road for the Msida festa
Saturday 19th July from 9.30pm to 11.00pm
Sunday 20th July from 7.00pm to 8.00pm
from 8.00 pm to 9.00pm the road will be open for the traffic
from 9.00 pm to 10.00 pm will be closed again
these are only 3 1/2 hours of a year for us to celebrate our feast all the other ours of the year we suffer of all the treffic going through Msida
why all this panic on the ambulance ,they have the right to pass al l the time even if the road is closed

Miguel Fenech

Jul 10th 2008, 13:28

I wish "the basic criteria of Christian love, respect and co-operation" would also be applied for fireworks and the noise they create.

richard stagno navarra

Jul 10th 2008, 13:23

It is obvious that the main road to the hospital should never be closed, The police should not even consider such an application.however, the parish priests should also condemn the excessive fireworks which are blasted off in every single feast. These also cause hardship to the old, infirm, young children and animals. They should control many whose main idea of fun is making as much noise as possible irritating the vast majority of people.

L Galea

Jul 10th 2008, 13:08

Authorities,
you are RESPONSIBLE and exposing yourselves to claims for damages for anything that may happen to anyone trying to get to hospital if you decide to submit to Mr Azzopardi's sheer arrogance and close the road.

If they want to let off fireworks than they can use the sea.

There is no need to fire nuclear petards to celebrate their feast.

Joseph Mallia

Jul 10th 2008, 13:05

Closing such an important road artery is outright stupidity. Besides being the shortest and fastest route to Mater Dei Hospital it is also the main route to the airport.

Anthony Charles

Jul 10th 2008, 13:02

Vincent Azzopardi: man of the year!!!

Ian Galea

Jul 10th 2008, 13:02

@Christian Camenzuli - Forget about statistics and stuff, I agree that villagers should have the right to celebrate their village feast in whichever way they decide. Though not happy about it, I accepted the fact that a trip to Valletta for the Jazz Festival for 2 years running took me 45 minutes longer. But now we are talking about free passage to ambulances to reach the hospital, so the situation has to be totally re-thought. Mr.Camenzuli, I'm sure you were blessed with some grey matter yourself, so use it before you pontificate to others!

M Borg

Jul 10th 2008, 12:51

This is something, that rather than the Authorities (Police), the College of Parish Priests can control. Not only this issue with Msida, but with most of the towns and villages in Malta. Same thing happened with Luqa, with the main road leading to the village square closed from 3 weeks before the feast, and even the bus can't go through. It used to happen (am not sure whether it still happens) with Zebbug, when flights have to stop in order to let petards off. Yes, feasts and petards are part of our culture and tradition, but we are being much more materialistic than ever, and the feasts are not the ones we used to have. How come that in this case, we put public health at risk? How come that in other villages and towns, like in Luqa, feast furniture block the way for wheelchairs and pushchairs on pavements, and risking the life of the villagers who have to walk in the middle of the road?? Yes, the College of Parish Priests have the power to cancel any feasts they deem are not really beholidng the christianity of our fiests, and solve all the problems.

HADRIAN AGIUS

Jul 10th 2008, 12:50

THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO ALL THIS. THEY JUST HAVE TO LET OFF THE FIREWORKS FROM A BARGE ON THE SEA JUST LIKE ST.JULIAN'S FEAST DO. THE NOISY FIREWORKS ARE A NUISANCE TO RESIDENTS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO MATER DEI AND ST.PHILIPS HOSPITALS PATIENTS.

Francis Cassar

Jul 10th 2008, 12:20

The road should definitely not be closed. The number one concern is of course access to the main hospital. This road is also a major artery from North to South and leads to a major tourist area, to the Gozo Ferry and to the Airport. Last year many people missed their flights because they arrived late at the airport due to the congestion caused by the road closure. . Two years ago whilst the road was closed, I had to drive my son from Msida to Ta' Xbiex . It normally takes me around 15 minutes to get back. Since the road was closed, I got stuck in a traffic jam and it took me over two hours to return home. It is about time that common sense prevails over emotions.

David Bonello

Jul 10th 2008, 12:12

Why should the lives of people needing emergency treatment be endangered all for the sake of a bunch of half wits who use a religious occasion as an excuse to behave like louts?

I'm sure that St Joseph would find Mr Azzopardi's behaviour thoroughly reprehensible!

Christian Camenzuli

Jul 10th 2008, 11:59

I feel the problem we have in our country is that we lost our identity! Clearly Mr Calleja has not been to a feast for quite some time because i can assure him and everyone that a much bigger fraction then 5% of the population attend the festivities (together with numerous tourists). instead of trying to destroy our traditions and identity we should be doing like other countries; make them stronger and advertise them.

i feel i am not competent enough to comment on whether or not the road should be closed. the authorities should study this and create a plan were the feast can still happen as usual while ensuring a free passage to MDH. on the other hand i do not find it in me to condemn Mr. Azzopardi's reaction. let me remind everyone that these are people who dedicate their free time and time-off from work for their feast and they do not get a Euro cent back (anzi most of them give a lot of money) .... so hold your horses and use some of your grey matter before you start offending this poor chap!

Philip Holland

Jul 10th 2008, 11:56

How on earth can Mr Azzopardi deem a 'feast' to be more important than the safety and welfare of Mater Dei Hospital and its occupants? His comments border on lunacy and downright stupidity. I am in no way opposed to 'feasts' and am in favour of locals celebrating 'nay' rejoicing in their festivities. How would Mr Azzopardi feel if he or any of his family were unable to gain immediate access to said hospital thus resulting in a serious situation? His attitude and comments are so archaic and beyond comprehension. On a different note, the majority of fireworks are MORE a case of big bangs followed by BOOM BOOM BOOM ! memories of World War II spring to mind.... this is entertaintment is it? Hope the local Police see sense and throw his request straight in the bin where it belongs. Having said that it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Police grant him his wish, as their morals at times leave a lot to be desired !!

Franco Farrugia

Jul 10th 2008, 11:55

Hats off to the College of Parish Priests for being aware of the priorities in life, and for being so socially conscious and proactive!

H. Mifsud

Jul 10th 2008, 11:50

It is high time that the Law is respected and the respective authority enforces it. For our size we have a fool-proof legal system in place - what we lack is serious enforcement. Mr Azzopardi should be prosecuted for such intimidating remarks. Expressing one's views is one thing as freedom of expression should be tolerated but such deplorable remarks are unacceptable. Christian or not, no one should be above the Law!

Mark Spiteri

Jul 10th 2008, 11:49

I was caught up in the traffic that piled up when this road was closed last year, and I can tell you it was not fun. I was blocked there for over 45 minutes. So I really cannot understand how this guy can expect this main road to be closed this year that Mater Dei is present.

How can Mr Azzopardi have this attitude? Will he remain in this position even if the parish priest does not agree with his approach!?

claire bonello

Jul 10th 2008, 11:32

@ H Farrugia - The road might be closed for just 2 days - time enough for people who need emergency treatment not to get through to hospital in time. Any iff the church bells in Balzan are rung all the time, why should this justify the road closure at Msida?

James Calleja

Jul 10th 2008, 11:25

This practice of closing streets every time a feast rolls around is a nuisance to all residents and commuters to and from the area. Sliema has been plagued (!) by 2 feasts over as many weeks, and navigating through the roads has been a nightmare and an inconvenience, to say the very least. This does not even take into account the audacity of the request to shut down an artery like Regional Road: it should not even be considered by the authorities, and shutting it down annually should be stopped once and for all.

It would make more sense to confine such festivities (as they are important cultural events on our islands) to areas which will have minimal effect on those that do not wish to partake in the event. Please stop inconveniencing the other 95% of people who are not attending your feast.

Dr Paul Sant Cassia

Jul 10th 2008, 11:23

The comment of Mr Vince Azzopardi, if correctly reported, is precisely the prime example of arrogance, ignorance, and supreme selfishness that Band Clubs can do without. We have had enough of people setting off petards, which please nobody and annoy everybody. The authorities should ensure that little upstarts like Mr Azzopardi are put in their place and keep the roads open. If the authorities capitulate to people like Mr Azzopardi their deserve our disdain for their supine attitude.

H Farrugia

Jul 10th 2008, 11:16

while I condemn the irresponsible comments made by this Misidjan, I cannot but concurr with his feelings that the Msida Arterial road is only closed for just 2 days, when the people of malta have to endure not just two days with the closure of main arteries in all parts of Malta, but months and years. Still Il cannot accept that the main roads leading to the only hospital in Malta may be effected, so the authorities (the Police) are to ensure that roads leading to the hospital are always kept open, irrespective of feasts or anything else. And the College of Parish Priests have better things to do than issue statements about this misidjan who has felt himself offended by feast critics. For example they should issue a statement condemning those who ordered the bells of balzan church to stop ringing. Shall we be consistent with our traditions please and ignore all the foreigners in Malta?.