Carnival enthusiasts see no fun or frolic in storage space dispute
Carnival participants yesterday slammed the Culture Ministry and Malta Industrial Parks for consistently ignoring their storage problem and dragging their feet.
Carnival float builders using large stores in Luqa risk having nowhere to work once Lent begins because they have been instructed by the MIP to vacate the premises when carnival is over.
MIP has said it offered to incorporate the warehouses at the Ta' Qali crafts village but the association representing float builders refused.
However, Jason Busuttil, spokesman for the Għaqda Parteċipanti Karnival ta' Malta, said the site was inadequate because it would have had to be demolished. In addition it was too distant from Valletta, where the celebrations were held.
"It would be impossible to take the floats from Ta' Qali to Valletta. We are seeking a place between Valletta and Marsa," he said.
He insisted that the former Soldini factory at Marsa, which, he said, had been vacant for 10 years, was ideal for the purpose.
"It is the only government-owned property between Valletta and Marsa that will meet our purposes," he said.
In reply, the MIP said that industrial property, such as the former Soldini factory, could only be allocated for industrial projects as detailed in the Business Promotion Act. Moreover, the location and size of the factory made it a prime strategic site that was being reserved for potential high value added investments.
Mr Busuttil said the failure to resolve this long-running issue was creating serious doubts about the participation of float builders in next year's carnival.
The Għaqda Parteċipanti Karnival ta' Malta expressed regret that Culture Minister Dolores Cristina was not giving importance to the matter, which, it said, could threaten the future of the 500-year-old carnival.
The association said that when the enthusiasts were told to leave lower Fort St Elmo, in Valletta, they were promised alternative accommodation but this had not been forthcoming.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
smifsud
Jan 28th 2010, 19:51
Again the Maltese culture under attack ...SHAME on you GONZIPN!!!.....we should support this group for there efforts to keep our beloved CARNIVAL ALIVE !!!!....WAKE UP MALTA YOUR LOSING IT !!!!!!! HEAR ME YOUR LOSING IT !!! MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING >>>>>>PEOPLE WHO LOVES MALTA PLEASE SPEAK UP....SAVE MALTA!!!!
Steve Sant
Jan 28th 2010, 19:45
How small minded and stupid some people at these Gov't divison's are?. So attracting hundreds of tourists is not considered business for Malta. Like when people are rude to tourists or cheat them, it's ok everyone else does it. Spoil our beaches, its ok we're building a nice hotel/block of flats on it. So you mean tourism is not a business?.
Why, do we have any other natural resource you not telling us about.
Oil maybe, or even better, export our legal profession ? Plenty of those ?. (my apologies, I couldn't resist that ?) .
J Azzopardi
Jan 28th 2010, 12:17
Government needs to put it's act together and find a viable solution for this issue. These people give an immense added value to Carnival and deserve respect and support. It is up to government to find a solution.
I for one, would like to say thank you to these people that keep working year after year notwithstanding at times obvious, and a worst inflicted, difficulties.
Adrian Archer
Jan 28th 2010, 10:56
Although I am not very fond of carnival, I do realise the dedication, commitment and the sheer and utter sacrifices these people make. Sure they enjoy themselves in doing so and why shouldn't they!!!
It's a disgrace for me when the government doesn't show an ounce of care to these people simply for the fact that there is no political gain in this matter. Whether you love or hate the carnival you simply cannot ignore the fact that carnival is one of our oldest and most important cultural events in our cultural calendar. These people struggle to make financial ends meet and to keep people together and they have the added burden that they have to struggle for a premises.
When we talk about culture, we say that we are committed to sustaining it. But no one really gives a damn including the people that should...how can this be on such a culturally rich island...how can this be???