Msida band club defends president after parish priests' comments

The Msida band club yesterday backed its president who was criticised by the College of Parish Priests after saying that roads would continue being closed for as long as he lives in order to let-off fireworks during the town's feast.

The band club's committee said Vince Azzopardi did not intend to be disrespectful to hospital patients or their relatives.

For years, the Regional Road and the Sta Venera bypass were closed for some hours during the Msida feast to allow for fireworks to be let-off, creating a nightmare for motorists who end up stuck in traffic for hours on end.

Matters could be made worse this year as the Regional Road is a major artery leading to Mater Dei Hospital and the possible closure has been strongly denounced by hospital superintendent Frank Bartolo.

Even parish priests expressed their concern about the risk to sick people and the inconvenience to their relatives that could be caused by the road's closure.

The band club committee said the president was "mainly referring" to roads in Msida centre, which needed to be closed for the festa.

When contacted last Saturday, Mr Azzopardi was specifically questioned about the arterial roads that could be closed to let-off fireworks. Police have confirmed that it received "two requests for closure of roads to let-off fireworks".

The committee said Mr Azzopardi believes that talks would lead to solutions for everyone's benefit while allowing Msida residents to enjoy their festa in a Christian spirit.

On Thursday, the College of Parish Priests expressed disapproval at Mr Azzopardi's comments, saying his attitude was not worthy of a modern society, a Christian and a person holding a position of responsibility in the organisation of a Christian feast.

Mr Azzopardi told The Sunday Times that the road had been closed for as long as he had been president and would continue to be closed for the feast for as long as he was alive. "Don't you dare come to Msida, I'm serious... If you don't like it, don't pass through Msida. We never needed you and we are never going to," he said.

When asked about people who were visiting patients at hospital, and who could be affected by the closure, Mr Azzopardi said the police would designate times when the road would be closed.

"If someone doesn't watch the news or read the newspapers, than it's up to him. We don't get into it," he said.