Police resources drained by unruly village feasts

a abela

Feb 15th 2009, 22:32

Kill Maltese feasts, Kill the Catholic Church future in Malta.

The feast is what keeps some youths attached to the local church. If that's good.. may it be

John Zammit

Feb 15th 2009, 22:15

On 25th January there was a feast at Birkirkara commemorating the conversion of St. Paul. During the procession the two bands palyed alternately; the whole event was thoroughly religious and devoid of any rudeness. In my opinion this event should serve as an example of how feasts ought to be held.

B Sant

Feb 15th 2009, 20:46

Well, the Curia a few years back accpeted to make way for statues to replace the Holy Host in a handful of villages during the evening processions. At that time it was sending a definite message of idolatry ....and now?.... they are trying to turn back the clock!!!!

Noel Cutajar

Feb 15th 2009, 20:29

@ David A. Agius - well said...the police should do an internal audit first and see how the police are being mobilized...but alas bad management results in bad planning. What comes to mind is the number of graduate police officers in law who left the force who were sent to guard illegal immigrants instead...further comments are superfluous. If resources are drained so why did the Commissioner allow this to happen? As usual...naraw ghada!!

C. Busuttil

Feb 15th 2009, 18:21

Bertie Decelis is right 100%, unfortunately Fr. Gouder avoids mentioning the FEW handful feasts that are giving the rest a bad name. One of these feasts is nothing less than a political carnival masked as a feast. These are the feasts that should be banned and not the rest.

The great majority of the local feasts are well behaved and well organized. Serious Band clubs weeks before the feast go to the police with a list of potential troublemakers that should not be permitted to attend. What all serious committee members want is that no idiot ruins their all year round preparations.
@ David A. Agius
You have no idea about what you are talking about, few hundreds? several feasts are held on every summer weekend and the towns/villages are packed with people.
Behind every feast there is the sterling dedicated work of many volunteers that you don't even imagine. Do you really believe that a handful people can organize something on such scale. Band Clubs in Malta are more organized than the major premier league football clubs. In organization, cultural and social activities all year round these clubs are unmatched by any other organizations.

Alfred Grech

Feb 15th 2009, 17:24

The feasts need to be cleaned up. Fun is fun but arrogance, insults and fights are a big no no.

The BIshops should call a meeting with the parish priests and local band clubs and set rules. If such rules are disobeyed, then their feast will be scrapped.

I've seen kids on their father's shoulder hurling insults to the "other side" in honour of their patron saint. We need strict discipline.

Bertie Decelis

Feb 15th 2009, 17:20

I only read the first comment when I wrote mine, and this is my last comment in this blog because it's of no use to answer for so long to these negative minded people, who think Malta is able for nothing. David A Agius how dare you call people idiots in a discussion, you should be the only idiot inside here because you think you're the prime minister by telling everyone what to do and guess what you know nothing. Go and play outside alone and leave these people work. You don't even stand by their shoes with all the work they do throughout the year!

We want the festa and we're paying for it. It's not your money but of those who contribute and love the feast. You think that everybody hates the feast, so I say you have never come to a feast and see thousands of people appreciate the work done! Stop taking advantage because you have time to write not like the feasts volunteers.

Tourist come here and contribute to the economy and first of all they wish they do like us in their country. They don't even dream of it! Lucky we!

Carima Achokwu

Feb 15th 2009, 15:27

The feasts are everything except religious. They are just noise pollution, alcohol, a way to get into fights and to be rude in public. I wonder how the church permits these so called feasts. Back in the days someone who prayed in front of a statue or followed a statue used to be called an idolator, is it any different now-a-days?

Bertie Decelis

Feb 15th 2009, 14:55

I cannot stay without giving my comments to this article and comments made in this conference.

Why didn't Fr Gouder mention the priests that do the feast hand in hand with the volunteers and are very happy with their people and feast? As far as I know the vulgarity and rude words has diminished and in some places also disappeared. Also the anthems on CDs are given to Curia to be verified, or else if played in the feasts without permission, the feast would be cancelled. I do not consider any websites of fanatic & immature individuals with rude comments official. Why doesn't he enter into the band clubs/fireworks factories websites and see all the work done from the volunteers?

I agree that drugs shouldn't be in the streets and nowhere else but where is the police in this? It's not a feast problem but of those who sell drugs.

The Commission should be raised to educate people and not to destroy the work done in the feast by reducing things to near nothing. We volunteers choose the do this work for our feast, else we have other things to do, we sacrifice ourselves to do this.

J Farrugia

Feb 15th 2009, 14:06

The Catholic Church is no longer responsible for outdoor festivities. Punto e basta. It is the social clubs, the band clubs who are the true entities responsible for out door festivities. There off course is the odd feast here and there which is administered by a Kumitat tal-Festa presided over by the Kappillan. But these festas are never the ones who create trouble. Trouble is caused even by outsiders, who have no finger in the organisation but wait for the moment of the festa to show their criminal minds and hands. So don't try to be funny. I do not even know if you are one of those who 'really' works for the festa for the whole year, or whether you are one who 'ruins' what others take the whole year to prepare. So don't blame the church.

Noel Cutajar

Feb 15th 2009, 13:09

It is funny to read these comments when the Police, Band Clubs and the Church entered into agreements into how to run the band marches...it was a way of creating 'public order' by allowing rival band clubs to stop and chant in front of the other club. This only increased tension and hatred.

George Busuttil

Feb 15th 2009, 12:46

Does anyone remember that in the 70s Mintoff wanted to limit village feasts to three days, that is Friday, Saturday and Sunday? At the time elemnts in the Curia and the PN acused Mintoff of wanting to eradicate Malta's Christian culture. Now this issue is haunting the church not knowing how to control the monster it created.

David A. Agius

Feb 15th 2009, 12:30

Also, the Police commissioner may also wish to fill the police stations left empty by releasing the following members from their current "jobs" and get them to do Law Enforcement and Public assistance instead of administrative work:

- Drivers of officials from Superintendents up who are officials mainly holding administrative jobs and not really investigative. This means two drivers for each one, which easily would number a total of some 60-100 police officers.
- Stores and Trades. These should not be filled in with Police but civilians. Current members who wish to retain that job should be given a new job description and marked off the Police Complement
- Clerks in all Police Offices.That means at least another 200 officers who do mainly desk jobs and work which is easily done by civilians.
- Officers who are on VIP protection on a full time basis. These should be carried out by AFM.
- Officers who are WASTED in fixed points all around the island, such as for example with embassies and government offices. These again should be jobs done by others.
- Finally, reduce heavily the number of micro police stations such as Pieta', Gharghur, Gzira, Mqabba, etc.

L. Cutajar

Feb 15th 2009, 12:20

I completely agree with Daniel Zammit. Feasts have become the source of paganism in our country. There is nowhere else in the world where such hatred between opposing "cultural" band clubs who are celebrating their patron saint, exist. Whatshould be a rligious function is being turned to paganism. The 'marc tal-brijju' should no longer be part of the festivities and it should be completely abolished. I congratulate the archbishop for taking a strict stance and give him my support to take drastic action against esternal celebrations during feast days. I hope that such action is taken immediately prior to the start of the summer period.

David A. Agius

Feb 15th 2009, 12:17

So since everyone is complaining, who is actually in favour of the feasts? I am sorry but in a nation where more than ever people do not have any religious affiliation, the few hundreds are paralyzing streets for a whole lot of days, spend thousands of liri in fireworks, dumping rubbish everywhere, disturb public peace and quiet etc.

If someone wants to organise a non-religious activity of the same sort he would have to fork out thousands for permits, security, first aid, etc. Under the guise of a religious activity bars and hawkers etc make a fortune whilst the village idiots give a display of their love for their patron saint's statue whilst at the same time offending the opposing band club.

So in one way I say, yes, you want a festa? Pay for it. And as regards Police presence, these should not be there as babysitters and especially not paid out of public pockets.

And the Church should for once and for all disassociate itself from the profanities and obscenities carried out outside by not participating in committees, not backing up such organisations and start toning down its flamboyancy for decorating village's streets in religious garb.

Victor Testa

Feb 15th 2009, 11:11

Mal-Hazin jehel it-tajjeb!! Beleive it or not ,Feasts have played a considerable financial contribution to our economic system. If we stop them, i ask, what should the church propose??since it's drained out of ideas!!........ And for a start, the Police should stop bringing upexcuses, motivate the police force on drug abuse and catch the drug pushers around!!

J Oatmon

Feb 15th 2009, 10:59

@ daniel zammit

The statement:

"It's all up to the Church to decide whether or not external festive activities can take place or not.If for some reason rivalry,antisocial behaviour and even "danger zones " are particular to any feast then it is the Church"s responsibility to halt any external festive activities and if necessary abort ..."

Is of no use - the 'rowdy drunken drugged revellers' will just ignore anyone without the authority to arrest or subdue them if necessary, no matter what is agreed beforehand by responsible persons.

The answer is to impose proper regulations backed up by laws, and arrest those who disobey the police.

Part of the funding for the feasts should be allocated to the police to cover their costs.

Perhaps then, families can again enjoy the feasts without fear of what may happen to their kids, by the actions of drunks and wacko's.

daniel zammit

Feb 15th 2009, 10:14

It's all up to the Church to decide whether or not external festive activities can take place or not.If for some reason rivalry,antisocial behaviour and even "danger zones " are particular to any feast then it is the Church"s responsibility to halt any external festive activities and if necessary abort even the celebration itself and show to those concerned that Village feasts are there for the sole purpose of bringing people together in celebrating one feast with a common cause.