Video: Birgu by Candlelight draws the crowds

Philip Bartolo

Oct 21st 2008, 16:32

Was a shame issuing all those parking fines !!! Shame on you whoever was responsible for all those tickets .

Charles P Cilia

Oct 21st 2008, 15:25

Last Saturday I took to Birgu some non Maltese relatives; visitors from Australia and they were amazed with what they saw. It was not the candle light or the crowds that astonished them the most, but the history, narrow streets, bastions, churches, Maltese houses and our Mediterranean culture in general.

Surely the MTA is aware of this extreme want of cultural tourism. Imagine if Birgufest and say the Regatta are somehow combined to a one week event and sold as a cultural holiday. One may even go a bit further and have tourists lodging with private families in the Cottonera area. This type of tourism is happening everywhere else in the world and there is no reason why, with genuine goodwill and not greed, work here. After all, we are already hosting thousands of students each year. Surely, the upgrade to adult guests should not be that difficult using the same government structures already in place.

Charles P Cilia

Oct 21st 2008, 14:53

Can’t we leave politics aside for once, let’s enjoy the next four years or so.

I hail from Vittoriosa and was born in the shelter that is now open to the public, following I might add the splendid work and restoration by Wirt Artna. Obviously, I do not remember being born, but remember after the war, mum pointing out to me were I was born. I do also remember some of the hardships living in the Cottonera shelters. And, later on, playing in the bombed out houses and ruins throughout Vittoriosa.

Nostalgia got the best of me then. I went to Birgu on Saturday and enjoyed it tremendously. However, I agree whole heartily with most of the constructive comments; that is the darkness, parking, food etc. Consequently, may I suggest to the Birgu Council that while the 2008 event is still fresh in our minds, to set up a blog or more conventionally a ‘suggestion box’ where the public can post their suggestions. I’m sure it will be helpful.

Just to start it of, I suggest that next year more water transport is used to minimize the use of private cars thus reduce traffic.

J.Chircop

Oct 21st 2008, 13:40

I'd rather have named it "Birgu forseeing Malta" as probably this is what Malta will end up doing... if it is to be organised again, less people will go, and if its to be organised for a third time, even less people will go.. same as notte bianca ej..

Ronnie Gauci

Oct 21st 2008, 12:09

A typical case of "Qiesna Qatt Ma rajna Xejn". Switch off the lights, put some candles on and half of Malta will flock in for the usual parking problems and hours of standing staring at nothing.

Then if you serve rice "Ethiopia" style you'll make headline news.

J.Saliba

Oct 21st 2008, 11:11

well done cospicua council for the 100s of fines issued during the Birgu festival.......Shame on u!!

That is the difference between 2 local councils....one works and creates big activities....the other one tries to earn money from the people. The Cospicua council had better see how to improve your city and solve the BIG problems you have!

Karl Abela

Oct 21st 2008, 09:58

EXCELLENT, WELL DONE , GIVE US MORE.

Some people are so politically committed to rubbish anything that is good in this country that they are giving a bad name to the party they represent. Please do not take out your political frustration on such interesting and useful events for our country. I thought that these people had ditched the nonconstructive criticism tactic, but it seems not.

L Galea

Oct 20th 2008, 22:05

My last information is that the fines where issued by wardens of the cospicua local council with specific orders!

Joe Attard

Oct 20th 2008, 14:18

Mr Callus I am from Cottonera and please note nationalist . Without the nationalist vote from the south that always was stable the PN would have lost. No single vote was lost from the sixth district downwards.can you claim the same. Prosit Birgu council...i believe that such activities must be politics free but when it's too much we need to react.

Samuel Bezzina

Oct 20th 2008, 09:50

I would like to say that last Saturday's Fjakkolata at Birgu was such a great success, since that there was such a good mixture of culture, meaning that tourists could see the Maltese way of life at the Pjazza in such events. Apart from this, one should also include the Maltese history that was re-enacted during that event, as such acts, but especially costumes from the knights era till the British era, were so magnificent. Last but not least, the organisation from the Birgu Local Council was so excellent, that it therefore led to such a great atmosphere in a lovely historical town like Birgu!
Well done and Prosit!
Sam

Astrid Vella

Oct 19th 2008, 22:49

The success of this event, measured by its phenomenal attendance shows how the Maltese public seeks such events. Could the Vittoriosa Local Council which has proven itself so capable time and time again, consider holding Birgu by (more) Candlelight more often, and providing better public transport?

We were stuck in a traffic jam from near St. Philip's Hospital, with seemingly most of Malta descending on Birgu like Lemmings. By the time we got to Paola we knew it would be hopeless trying to park and regretfully turned back.

A shuttle ferry service from Valletta would have been ideal. Maybe next time?

N.Brown

Oct 19th 2008, 21:29

As Mr. Ivan Tabone quite rightly pointed out, I find it very difficult to comprehend why so many people try to politicize a cultural activity. In my opinion it was a success and with so much organisation and planning which goes into such a mega event, there is always room for improvement such as in transport and parking facilities. Problem is that there are two types of people. On one side there are those who DO things and then there are those who just CRITICIZE. I commend those who criticize contructively because they want to see better things in the future but i just don't like those who just 'offer' their opinion just for the sake of being negative. On a more positive note, I would like to say that Vittoriosa should be visited not just when there are such activities but on a normal day. One can see this historic and cultural city to which Malta owes so much for the vital role it played throughout the centuries in defending our country. There might not have been enough light during this event but it sure was bright when it was called upon to serve in dire times.

Joseph Borg

Oct 19th 2008, 17:42

@Ivan Tabone

I cannot agree with you more and if you felt offended by my comment please accept my sincere apologies 'cos I didn't mean it that way.
But unfortunately there are some circumstances where the cottonera area is being treated differently from other towns, villages and cities and this is very bad indeed.
I still repeat that the event was exceptionally organised and the venue was superb.

D. Mangion

Oct 19th 2008, 17:33

Birgu by Candlelight is a wonderful idea and event - well done to the organisers....but it could be so much more beautiful and definitely much safer if a whole lot more candles/torches etc are used - it was so incredibly dark, it felt like Birgu in Darkness.

joyce aquilina

Oct 19th 2008, 17:25

where is the large carpark in cospicua which was promised by PN some years ago MR CALLUS? .i am from cospicua and we could not find any parking in front of our homes.i suggest the cospicua local council that when ever there is a similar evant or a feast in vittoriosa the cospicua council should be compasated for parking.and i do not know if the school ground was open or not but if not i suggest that next time it should be open for a paying carpark

Ivan Tabone

Oct 19th 2008, 17:11

@ K. Callus

Do you need to give a political tinge to something purely non political? How pathetic can you be? Jsut for the record, the marina was devloped by a private consortium. The government did not invest anything. The government didn't build anything. All it did was give the land for a 99 year lease for a VERY cheap price. This does not mean that the work done on the marina is not soemthing to be pleased of.

@Joseph Borg

Bad name? What bad name? Where do you hail from? Is it some place with a highly regarded name? Vittoriosa has always been the jewel it is, the only difference is that now, thanks to land speculators it is being taken notice of. I think that the "bad name" rests in some people who still think that living a few villages away in a country that is only few square miles of rock can consider themselves belonging to a higher God than ours!

v.ella

Oct 19th 2008, 17:10

Since Iwas the one who naively tried to bring some humour out of the event and subsequently sparked off a political slinging match I apologise for cracking a joke a la Bla kondixin! (I don't recall anyone criticizing their sense of humour.) Be that as it may. I want to make it clear that I LOVE Birgu and the Cottonera since much of maltese history happened here. The evening was obviously a success judging from the multitudes that descended on the city. This fact could turn out to be the event's worst enemy if not managed correctly. I was there at 6.30 and already parking was a problem. When I tried to leave at about 11.00 it was impossible(and impassable) because a coach blocked the narrow road below the bastions and we had to reverse quite a long way. So there. I've made my confession I hope I'm forgiven my trespasses! But next time if I see an occasion to pull some legs I think I'll risk it again!

l Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 16:46

K. Callus
Improving Cottonera?
Did you fly in and have not used the roads?
Do you really live in Malta?

joe mizzi

Oct 19th 2008, 16:44

Well done for the councill of Birgu. BUT please next time put some candles at TOQBA TAL BIRGU .. i saw an english lady fall. It was pitch dark. Some had to use thier moble light.

Joseph Borg

Oct 19th 2008, 16:25

Well done Mr Boxall and all the Birgu Local Council and the local committees who organised this event.
It was almost my first time visiting Vittoriosa (I only visited the maritime museum twice) and I was very surprised with this city. It's a pity that the cottonera area has such a bad name because for me it is a very interesting tourist location.
I was there and I can say it couldn't have been organised better. For me it was better then the notte bianca. The only downside was the parking but considering the location there is nothing to be done for this.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GIVE US MORE.

j.m azzopardi

Oct 19th 2008, 15:56

was another dark night in our history, thank god all went well , and no stampedes happened in the crowd there were many parents with kids in push chairs that could have caused a big problem if people had to rush away from an accident. It could have been nice dark night , but safety was a bit worrying , and certainly not a night for the disabled community to enjoy cant see how a person wheelchair bound could navigate in the those crowds and dark streets

Vincent Mercieca

Oct 19th 2008, 15:30

My wife and I planned to go with a couple, friends of ours; however the problem of parking also rose up.
Permit me to suggest that for the next event the organisers would consider shuttle or frequent bus service from Valletta and from another major town on the south of Malta and also water taxi service from Valletta.
Buses must work late, same as these do in Notte Bianca.

Manuel Mifsud

Oct 19th 2008, 15:09

Why should one prophet of doom and gloom ruin the nice comments about a fantastic event organised by the mayor of Birgu and the residents. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GIVE US MORE.

Stefan Sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 14:42

Well done to the council for such an event! However I agree with K. Callus since same thing happened to me. It was impossible to get in with all the traffic.
Maybe for the next event, POSSIBLY the traffic should be more oraganised in the same way as it was for the notte baincha held at Valletta.
Such events are v. important since sometimes we do not appreciate enough our culure and during these events we can take to opportunity to visit these historical places.

Audrey-Anne Callus

Oct 19th 2008, 14:34

Well done to our mayor, who is one in a million. If all mayors were like John Boxall, the whole of Malta would be a priceless jewel.

I believe that next year we should also think about a park and ride system from the Kapuccini area in Kalkara or some other nearby spacious area and better traffic management from as far off as Zabbar since irregular parking was on all the way up to Zabbar. There were cars who were even parked on central strips and blocking dangerous bends....no wonder that a considerable amount of traffic fines were issued.

K. Callus

Oct 19th 2008, 14:17

Unfortunately, after booking a table in a Vittoriosa restaurant from days in advance, our plan for the night had to be cancelled since it was practically impossible to park. We looked for a parking space as far as Zabbar which was also full and we couldn't walk all that way. So we missed this event but I can remember last year's which was amazing. Well done to the Vittoriosa local council which is one of the most hardworking council in Malta. Perhaps an improvement for next year would be to provide some park and ride transport.
One comment that passed through my mind is a big praise to the PN government who despite knowing that Cottonera is a Labour hub, it still improved Cottonera big time by investing and building Marinas and making this jewel area one of the most attractive improvements in Malta providing several opportunities in the catering business etc. This is how a PN governement and a Labour coucil should cooperate together. Well done to all!

A. Charles

Oct 19th 2008, 14:10

I love Birgu and I think Mr. Boxall is one fantastic mayor but can next year's festival be more lit by means of judicious use of electric lights as much of the streets were in total darkness and very dangerous when the people all massed together in one place. If a stampede happened, the outcome would have been disastrous.

l Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 14:10

Why is it that people complain (and rightly so) when the electricity is cut off and have to use candles and yet flock in their thousands to Birgu to experience the experience?

WJ Gatt

Oct 19th 2008, 12:14

@ v.vella, Denis Zammit, Anthony Mifsud and M. Gauci

Can you spare us just this one time and don't ruin the article by your sad political comments! Really, is that all you could talk about if you were asked to write an essay about "An outing in Birgu"?

l Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 12:08

@Dennis Zammit
Go on Dennis.
Show us one single bill.
Tomorrow the MLP is going to publish the real figures of how much the electricity and water bills are going to increase.
You will know that the MLP is right when you receive your first bill Dennis.
Then let's see you laugh through the big crisis that the Government is leading us into.

mark tanti

Oct 19th 2008, 11:49

As always some people try to ridicule such an activity held in Vittoriosa a place were some years ago no one used to visit. Normally those who ridicule and moan about everything which moves on this planet are people capable of doing nothing.
Well done to Vittoriosa local council and to everyone who was responsible for this activity.

v.vella

Oct 19th 2008, 11:33

@Dennis Zammit and Franco Farrugia
I am a PN voter but I can see a chance for a bit of humour in everything. It was a joke, you know like when someone says somehing and others laugh?! But one must not take it too seriously otherwise one will see something sinister in all of it. if it had happened during the Sant years yes I would have made the same joke, why not? Now I notice everyone is talking politics!!!!
A last word of praise for Mr. Boxall and the Birgu local council who have a jewel of a city.

Joseph Schembri

Oct 19th 2008, 11:22

Does everything have to be politicized in this country? For goodness sake! It was a nice event ... the only thing "wrong" was that public transport was not organized as it was for Notte Bianca. That might be something to think of next year .... and the "malta by candlelight" comment was quite funny for anyone not looking through Red or Blue tinted lenses. Sarcasm at it's best ...

victor vella

Oct 19th 2008, 11:15

OK so a lot of people wen tot Birgu, unforyunately I was one of them who along with my family went there at abot 10 pm, Many cars had parking tickets, this in the road leading to De La Salle college the same street that is occupied till 2 pm every tuesday by hawkers ( instead of up to 12 noon) do they get tickets, and by the way they werent warden tickets.but in all fairness these cars blocked the way for coaches.The inquisitors palace was full of people bumping into each other, and the only supervision that there was was security to ensure that no one got in for free, No Guides present and every one was crowding around the information plauqes to find out what and why the cells and other areas were used. as for the rest well all I can say is that it reminded me of Malta in the past yes Malta between 1975 and 1987 less the candles.

PAUL VELLA

Oct 19th 2008, 10:30

Something which I didn't like was that the candles were placed in holes all over the bastions and they were dirtying the stone with soot.

M.Gauci

Oct 19th 2008, 09:56

@Anthony A Mifsud
Yes of course because the then Labour Government led by Dr. Sant was kicked out of the helm in no time, quick enough not to implement such austerity measures. Again, as has been said, when the price of oil was just $12 a barrel.
It seems Labour are in for records, with the most red facing of all being the record for lasting only 18 months. Had they lasted 5 years Dr. Sant would have implemented it, rest assured Mr. Mifsud.

Vincent Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 09:32

It was really fantastic seeing all those Maltese families enjoying a night out to remember.
Your report however was a little bit inaccurate.I have just one little tiny question.
: Who made the most of money .....Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi or the Maltese government through the issues of tens and tens of traffic fines ? Who? .....no need to enter into detail.

Anthony A. Mifsud

Oct 19th 2008, 09:27

@ Mr. Dennis Zammit.
Just one comment, if you please. Can you show One EniMalta bill with the tariffs, that you're stating, as it was only discussed and not applied.

There is a big differance, is that so? please put the facts right.

Toni

Franco Farrugia

Oct 19th 2008, 09:10

@ v vella - Extremely funny, I don't think!

Dennis Zammit

Oct 19th 2008, 09:10

To V.Vella.

It seems that mr vella was not in Malta during the period 1996/1998 since he did not remember the much higher electricity tariffs when a barrel of oil was around $12.

On the other hand, well done Mr Boxall and all in the Birgu Local Council and all the local committees who organised the event.

Just one comment . . . the main stage with the type of music was not in line with the event. I would have preferred some other use of the main stage to be kept in the idea/period of the festival.

Joseph Portelli

Oct 19th 2008, 09:05

The huge steaming pot and people queing to be served reminded many of the 'Victory Kitchen' ......the food, of course did not.

A Licari

Oct 19th 2008, 08:54

There is nothing "eerie" about a candle-lit city. It's just more attractive than usual!

v.vella

Oct 19th 2008, 08:42

The atmosphere was fatastic but rumour has it that this is the last year the Birgu by candlelight is to be organised since as from next year and considering the new energy tariffs
the festival will lose much of its appeal as all of Malta will be in candlelight!

deb bugeja

Oct 19th 2008, 08:16

Prosit

vittoriosa local council