The Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government has definitively concluded the process of purchasing the headquarters of the King's Own Band Club in Valletta.
This society was facing a real and serious risk of eviction from its premises due to the legal situation related to pre-1995 rental agreements.
In total, the Ministry invested €7.4 million for the acquisition of the property as payment for the purchase of the building, as well as €1.8 million representing compensation to the owners as stipulated by law. This brings the total number of band club premises whose purchase has been conclusively completed by the Ministry to 13. In addition, there is another property still under a preliminary agreement - the premises of the Madonna ta' Pompei Society in Marsaxlokk - for which a final contract is yet to be signed.
Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Owen Bonnici said, "Today we are providing peace of mind to another historic society that for many years has been a pillar of the Maltese festa tradition. The government is ensuring that this property continues to be used for the benefit of the community and culture. Never before has there been a government that invested so much in the feast traditions - with more than €30 million spent to safeguard 14 band clubs, with feasts now also recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."
"This all shows how much this government believes in our cultural heritage and the strength of the Maltese identity - and all this is possible because Malta has a strong and stable economy," Minister Bonnici concluded.
The thirteen band club premises that have been conclusively purchased by the Ministry so far are: the premises of the Għaqda tal-Mużika San Gejtanu AD 1906, the Marija Reġina Musical Society Marsa A.D.1977, the Stella Levantina Musical Society of Ħ'Attard, the Circolo San Giuseppe Filarmonika Sagra Familja of Kalkara, the Santa Liena Band Duke of Connaught's Own Society of Birkirkara, the Antoine de Paule Musical Society of Paola, the Stella Maris Musical Society of Sliema, the San Pietru fil-Ktajjen Musical Society of Birżebbuġa, the Anici Social and Musical Society of Qormi, the Santa Marija Philharmonic Society of Mosta, the Sant'Andrija Society of Lija, and the 12th May Band Club of Żebbuġ.
In total, the Ministry is expected to invest around €30 million, considering the amount already spent on acquiring the thirteen mentioned properties and the additional amount required for the finalization of the contract related to the Madonna ta' Pompei Society premises in Marsaxlokk.