'Enough is enough': 100-year-old Valletta feast statue, pedestal damaged
Feast organisers say they will stop decorating for the upcoming feast after overcoming countless obstacles
Updated 9.15pm
A 100-year old statue and a historic pedestal in St George’s Square, Valletta have allegedly been damaged by filming equipment just days before the feast, the Mount Carmel Feast Association said on Saturday.
In a heartfelt statement posted on their Facebook page, the Għaqda Festa Madonna Tal-Karmnu Valletta said “enough is enough – we will stop putting up feast decorations” after the decorations were damaged.
With decorations for the festa already up in the streets of Valletta, the association alleged “equipment, machinery and trucks” related to a film that is being shot in the city “damaged a statue that is more than 100 years old, and its historic pedestal”.
The association told Times of Malta a police report was filed following the incident.
The Minister for Culture said he was informed of the incident and an agreement was reached between all parties concerned for damages to be paid by the Malta Film Commission.
"All expenses related to the damages will be fully covered by the Malta Film Commission," Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea said.
"Any restoration works required will be carried out by a restorer of their choice."
The association said putting up the festa decorations was already challenging as they had to “overcome countless obstacles”.
“Valletta – and Malta – no longer truly belong to us. To put up these decorations, which people call a UNESCO-recognised heritage in words but not in deeds, we have had to overcome countless obstacles,” the association said.
“The outdoor tables of catering establishments are given priority over Maltese feasts, over the traditional street decorations and over this religious celebration. Now even film productions take precedence.”
They pointed out that after being disrupted by preparations for Isle of MTV, “now there are trucks and cranes preventing even the feast procession from passing through”.
They insisted they will “stop putting up feast decorations and will not continue”.
“There is no real protection for our traditions,” the association added.
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is scheduled to be celebrated on July 16 in Valletta.
The Prior of the Carmelite church Fr Alex Scerri appealed that "we do not allow anyone or anything to rob us of the joy and love we have for the much-loved Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in our capital city".
MP Nigel Vella, who was elected from the first district and is a self-confessed active festa enthusiast, said situations like this "must be prevented".
In a Facebook post, Vella, who also serves as the Mediterranean Conference Centre CEO, said he has been in touch with Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea about the incident.
He acknowledged that volunteering has become "increasingly difficult".
"I know the sacrifices that are made to keep these feasts alive. ... Everyone enjoys attending the feasts, but few realise the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes."