The Valletta fireworks festival, always a great success, was held again this year… but with a difference: it was not held across Valletta, not even over Floriana but across Marsa in an industrial area know as Ras Hanzir.

Before proceeding, I have to first declare my interest: my cafeteria benefits from having this festival held directly opposite, just off Fort St Angelo.

This location also benefits the thousands of Maltese and foreigners who attend the event and certainly one can argue that no more beautiful backdrop exists than Fort St Angelo at the tip of the historic Vittoriosa peninsula, which also hosts the Yacht Marina. It also lies directly across Valletta, and is centrally located between the Upper and Lower Barrakka gardens. Indeed this was the site chosen as the centre of the EU Accession celebrations, an event that was transmitted worldwide.

One would not imagine, for example, Mosta setting off their fireworks in Naxxar, or Gudja setting them off in Hal Ghaxaq. The fabled pig reputedly peeked out of the cave at Ras Hanzir, so may we also peek into the reason why this year, instead of Fort St Angelo, a dumpy backdrop in an area nowhere near Valletta was chosen? What was behind the decision to move the barges to Laboratory Wharf: some obscure experiment? Or was it that it benefited the Valletta Waterfront, and the Waterfront exclusively, this sudden shift to its back yard, or should I say, back water? Ras il-hanzir indeed – when an event is centrally located all can view it, and when it is pushed to one corner, only the Big Man with the wide shoulders in front can have a decent view.

Several hotels in Valletta had clients who made it a point to stay there just for this spectacle. Their guests are now better advised to rent some disinfested, recently re-furbished warehouse off Laboratory Wharf. Or maybe a penthouse pad off one of the monstrous Red China Dock cranes. Has the event been hijacked or has it been bought out? Is everything on this island for sale? Is this the shape of things to come?

Either way, for the sake of correct labelling, (this year’s flyer naturally showed the fireworks with the Fort St Angelo’s backdrop) this event should no longer be called the Valletta Fireworks Festival, because those who came to Valletta to watch the fireworks were left without as much as a fizzle.

Martin Baron

Proprietor

Café Deux Baronnes

VALLETTA