I refer to the letter entitled “The Ras Hanzir Fireworks Festival” (TMIS, 7 May).

Fort St Angelo is undoubtedly a suggestive backdrop for the fireworks festival, which is why the festival organisers chose it as the backdrop for the popular event in 2002.

Since that year, however, a yacht marina has been developed alongside Fort St Angelo, making it extremely risky for the festival organisers to let off fireworks from barges placed in the vicinity of the fort.

Following last year’s experience, after the organisers received written complaints and a judicial letter from the operators of the yacht marina, it was decided to shift the festival.

Various sites in the harbour were considered. The Valletta Waterfront option was chosen since on the whole it offered the best package.

The Ministry for Tourism and Culture regrets any inconvenience this move could have caused to some operators or owners of hotels and bars in Valletta.

Joe M. Zahra

Communication Coordinator

Ministry for Tourism and Culture