An apparent undercurrent of dissatisfaction, which the government is either unaware of or has underestimated, seems to be sabotaging the flag fest, which is being held for the first time this weekend.

The flag fest is an initiative by the Malta Tourism Authority aimed at creating an innovative tourist attraction.

“Since most residences, band clubs and public buildings have a pole installed on their roof tops, we are encouraging everyone across Malta and Gozo to hoist their finest flag on display, with the intention of creating a skyline spectacle,” tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco said when he launched the activity.

Many festa enthusiasts who have a flag mast on their rooftops are reportedly not taking part in the flag fest - in protest.

Those who own a flag mast on their roof tops are very often the same people who are blind supporters of their village feast and are involved in it in one way or another, forming the core of the band of unpaid helpers without whose work village feasts would not be possible.

They believe that the government is not supporting festa culture, but expects festa enthusiasts to cooperate during the flag fest.

“The government fails to understand how important feasts are to our country. While the media have been putting feasts in a bad light in general, the government is not taking a stand and we are having to deal with repercussions and cannot plan ahead,” explained a person involved in the organisation of village feasts.

Those who are expecting Zurrieq, the village with most flag masts, to offer a unique spectacle during the flag fest may be disappointed as it seems that St Catherine’s band-club supporters intend to bring down their flags in protest.

Many festa enthusiasts in Zurrieq have two or three flag masts, which they use when either of the Zurrieq village feasts (Our Lady of Mt Carmel or of St Catherine) is being celebrated.

Ahead of Our Lady of the Mt Carmel feast in July, blue and white flags and festoons are hoisted on buildings across the entire village. However, before the St Catherine’s festa in September, red and white flags can be seen flying on local roof tops. Rarely are all the masts in use at the same time because of the rivalry existing between the supporters and the clubs of each feast.

The flags and festoons have become a distinctive characteristic of Zurrieq.

Zurrieq mayor Silvio Izzo Savona explained that the local council did its best to encourage both the Carmelite society and St Catherine band-club to take part in this initiative. “We are hoping that the villagers cooperate. A unanimous vote was taken to promote the initiative as a council but we need the people’s cooperation,” explained the mayor.

St Catherine’s band-club is not encouraging their supporters to participate. Band-club secretary Joe Darmanin, who sounded rather angry about the situation in a telephone conversation carried out with this newspaper, disclosed that in view of the lack of government support for village feasts they are not supporting the flag fest.

“This year we worked on a project to take our band on a trip to Hungary. We had to print promotional material ourselves to promote both Zurrieq and Malta. When we sought help from the Malta Tourism Authority we were told that our initiative has nothing to do with tourism. Feasts are an intrinsic part of Maltese culture and unless something is done to preserve them, they will be lost. Does the government really appreciate the role feasts have in attracting tourists to Malta? Is the government in touch with the young people who, instead of engaging in vices on the streets, involve themselves in the feast on a voluntary basis?” Mr Darmanin remarked.

The Carmelite society’s assistant secretary Alan Mamo asserted that the society is encouraging its supporters to participate in the flag fest. “We agreed to take part but we didn’t discuss it at length,” he said.

In the meantime people from other localities have said that they do not intend to go along with the initiative.