Another feast held without barricades in Ħamrun

In Ħamrun we recently experienced a phenomenal feast as a result of work done by all those who are involved in its organisation. For the second year running the police did not need to put up the usual barricades in High Road to separate supporters of the two band clubs.

I used the adjective phenomenal not to boast but because the number of people attending the feast of St Caetan was really massive. And I mentioned the barricades because their use or otherwise is quite significant for the feast. The hearsay, the small incidents, mostly family ones which had nothing to do with the feast, and a sensational negative coverage by some sections of the media had created an aura of tension around the feast of St Caetan. And every year, as the feast approaches, we in Ħamrun had to face a nervous time awaiting the feast and then nothing happens and the feast is successful. But the police, as was their duty, used to take the necessary precautions and during the week of the feast would put up barricades to separate supporters at the end of each band march.

But today we in Ħamrun have managed to overcome this aura of tension and this year the police did not use the barricades and the supporters of both band clubs were free to move where they wanted to, mingling and drinking together. As usual, this was not mentioned by the media.

Here it is apt to mention the excellent work done by the police, led by Assistant Commissioner Ray Zammit and Superintendent Charles Magri, Inspector K. Farrugia and Sergeant Major Mario Rodin. It would be nice if a bus were to be parked at a strategic point so that the police on duty during the long hours of the feast could take it in turns to rest. Also the need is felt for a mobile canteen which could serve snacks and drinks to the police on duty.

As mentioned above, now that the tension has been done away with, people are flocking to the feast in Ħamrun and masses of people attended the band marches during the whole week.

And then on Sunday morning St Joseph High Street became a sea of colour and jollity. The façades of the two band clubs were well adorned for the occasion. Flags, caps and T-shirts with the band clubs’ colours dominated the scene. In the evening St Joseph High Road was again filled with people attending the procession and then there was the famous run up the steps of the parvis with the statue of St Caetan. This last event and the sacramental blessing in the Church brought the feast to a successful close.

This success was of course due to the work done by the presidents, committees and youth commissions of both band clubs, the two groups who put up the street decorations and to those who together with the parish priest, Fr Henry Balzan, were involved in the organisation of the feast. It is a pity that save for one TV station, this success was not reported in the media, in contrast to what used to happen when a petty incident used to be blown up to besmirch the whole celebrations.