With reference to the correspondence regarding the holding of the airshow over the sea at St Paul's Bay, I have to state the following.

Last year, when the airshow was first held over the sea at St Paul's Bay, I was politically responsible for civil aviation in Malta. For this reason, when faced with the idea of holding the show over St Paul's Bay I had to make sure that the Civil Aviation Department takes all the necessary precautionary measures needed to ensure a safe display for both the participants and the spectators.

At the time, the department was under fire because of a near air miss over Attard (for which it was not at all responsible). Besides, a few months prior to the show, while taking part in another aerial display, over the Grand Harbour, a foreign pilot unfortunately lost his life.

It was only natural for me that I ask the department to be extra sure that safety was given the highest consideration. This meant a certain amount of time lost between the initial consideration and the actual permits being granted. Some considered this time a hindrance to their plans, so much so that they were somehow convinced that I was trying to hinder their proposal. At the time, I was politically responsible for one of the most delicate subjects and I wanted to be sure that any danger there might be would be as little as possible. When this was ascertained, the necessary permits were granted.

As far as presence goes, I could attest that thousands of people attended the show.

As a result of this experience I asked the government, over the past months, to once more support, financially, the holding of the show. I hope that, once more, the show will be successful and augur the best possible results.

As far as other arguments are concerned, I prefer to leave those to the experts.