In reply to an article of mine, spokespersons for the Gozo and Tourism ministries recently went out of their way to keep their distance from the cancellation of the Bobby Solo concert during the recent Notte Gozitana – The Bobby Solo concert (TMID, 31 May). They also stated that the ministries concerned had nothing to do with the concert itself.

I did not in any way imply that Bobby Solo was engaged by the ministries themselves. I was fully aware that a certain company MB Promotions was organising this concert in aid of Arka Foundation.

But it remains an undeniable fact that the Bobby Solo concert was promoted prominently on the back page of the official programme of the Tourism Ministry – Gozo Ministry Lejlet Lapsi Notte Gozitana as a night of music, food and wine, so much so that the live concert which was due to be held at the Citadel on Friday 18 May was advertised in the same government programme as being organised in collaboration with Lejlet Lapsi Notte Gozitana. The same can be said for the concert by Tenori who were billed as “the UK’s most successful tenors ensemble” and were meant to perform at the Aurora Opera House on Saturday 19 May. Reports in the media have indicated that the turnout for this concert was so poor that the venue had to be changed to a much smaller one.

Incidentally both the Bobby Solo Live in Concert and the Tenori Concert were also advertised in the detailed programme of the Notte Gozitana chain of events in the inside pages of the same official programme.

Just for the record, my decision not to attend was no boycott of the organisers or of the cultural event itself. I had simply planned a quiet weekend in Gozo long ahead of when the festival had been announced.

Leo Brincat MP

St Julian’s