Culture Minister Owen Bonnici has revealed that the infamous Valletta Christmas tree that is placed in front of the Maltese Parliament cost the Valletta Cultural Agency €19,447, excluding value-added tax (VAT).

The Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government shared that the Valletta Cultural Agency (VCA) had issued a tender for several Christmas decorations for the country’s capital, however, no applications were received.

Bonnici said that as a result of these circumstances, and as permitted by Public Procurement Regulations for such cases, the VCA had to directly find contractors who were willing to provide the required services within the limited time available.

After discussing the time constraints placed upon the Agency, Minister Bonnici described that the original idea behind this year’s Valletta Christmas tree, as explained by the VCA on social media, was inspired by Maltese traditions and Anton Buttigieg’s poem “Il-Kebbies tal-Fanali.”

Minister Bonnici gave this information after responding to a parliamentary question that was tabled by PN MP Rebekah Borg.