The organisers of the Naxxar trade fair this morning held a well-attended meeting for exhibitors, a day after a judicial protest was filed accusing them of misappropriating funds.

The atmosphere at the meeting was not as heated as expected, and instead some exhibitors complained that the judicial protest was signed by an unnamed group of exhibitors.

"What we are doing is legally and morally correct," the director of Trade Fair Exhibitors Association Ltd, Pawlu Abela said, adding that he would respond to all allegations in due time.

Starting the meeting with a prayer and some seconds of silence for his deceased colleague Alfred Calleja, he asked exhibitors to "look forward together" and not be deviated by the interests of third parties.

"A train is coming, you can either jump on it and come forward with us, or let it pass," he said. He said TFEA Ltd was set up as a company for the sake of continuity, so that the strategy will remain consistent without a lot of internal squabbling that characterises associations.

"In the world you need leaders, we have taken the initiative and we are going to lead you, but we want you to join us and eventually to help lead with us," he said, encouraging companies to sign up to the planned fairs.

Mr Abela also assured that his company had sought the legal advice of Prof Ian Refalo and although some things still needed to be smoothened out, he was hopeful that the dream of returning the trade fair to Naxxar would succeed.

The Naxxar fairs will be organised in direct competition with the one held at Ta' Qali Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre.