Storage issue remains as King Carnival prepares entry

Carnival participants would not be asked to vacate premises in Fort St Elmo unless they are offered an alternative place, Tourism and Culture Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said yesterday.

“There’s no axe hanging on the carnival participants’ heads,” he said, adding the government was doing its utmost to draw up a Carnival Village plan where all participants could be relocated under one roof.

Dr de Marco commended the efforts put in by volunteers all year round in preparation for this 500-year-old event.

The president of the Carnival Participants Association, Jason Busuttil, said although Dr de Marco was the most helpful government official to date, storage issues remained the association’s main headache. Floats have been stored in St Elmo for more than 30 years. Out of the 27 members of the association, 11 keep their floats at the Valletta fort. Mr Busuttil said some of them had already been asked to vacate the place by April.

Dr de Marco said rent was renewed every year, adding the lease was not long-term in order not to hinder the progress of imminent embellishment projects.

Mr Busuttil said carnival could be “saved” by building 27 hangars worth under €700,000, including water and electricity provision. He said he had presented a detailed proposal of such an alternative plan last year.

­­The main carnival events that used to be held in Freedom Square, Valletta, will this year be relocated to the Triton fountain area outside City Gate. The enclosure would be set up between the fountain and the area known as Tal-Biskuttin where the statue of Christ the King is situated.