Residents' groups and NGOs, mostly from the Attard, Mosta and Lija have expressed their anger at loud and incessant noises coming from the Breaking Borders Festival at Ta' Qali during the weekend of the 6 September 2026. 

Residents from these areas, in a statement, complained that they could not sleep due to disturbances that occurred both at night and during the afternoon hours. Many called the police at the Birkirkara station, but the police refused to act, stating that the event organisers had a permit from the MTA.

They also refused to take action on grounds that even if a permit was issued, the volume of the music emitted was way above acceptable limits and was a cause of distress to hundreds of families who could not even rest in the afternoon to make up for the disturbances during the night, the statement said. Residents also heard fireworks and petards being let off at 12.45 am during the event, but the police still did not take action, it added. 

Venting their frustration at the lack of support on the part of the police who are responsible for upholding the law, residents highlighted the fact that loud noise over an extended period of time is a health hazard which contributes to hypertension, strokes, mental health problems and coronary issues.

All the fine pre-election talk about protecting residents' quality of life and measures to address mental health issues have now evaporated into thin air, in order to appease a few unscrupulous businessmen. This is doubly-frustrating given that many of the these events are sponsored by public authorities, ie by the very taxpayers who are suffering the noise, the statement said.

There have been many cases where, even when event organisers were taken to court, the alleged perpetrators were let off due to repeated 'administrative mistakes' made by the police in presenting their reports, the most recent and highly publicised case being against Mr. Ray Fenech of Tumas Group. In one instance, police claimed that they could not find the address of the owner of a well-known establishment, and repeated postponement of the hearing eventually led to acquittal, being expired due to the passage of time ('preskritta'). All this is intentionally engineered to make residents give up on reporting these incidents. 

Long-suffering residents added that it is becoming increasingly clear that what was behind the removal of the grass at Ta' Qali last year was the plan to turn the whole of Ta' Qali into a concert venue, the statement added. They added that their fundamental and legal right to enjoy peace in their own homes is being denied by a legal system that is deliberately designed to allow politically-connected party organisers and outlets to operate with impunity and full protection - through both legal and illegal means - while those who should be protecting the health and quality of life of residents look the other way.

Bizzejjed Group with residents from Attard, Mosta, Lija, Balzan, Mdina, Rabat
Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar

Marsascala Residents Network

Marsaxlokk Heritage

Pembroke Community Association

Residenti Beltin

Residenti San Pawl il Bahar

Residenti tal-Mellieħa

Sliema Residents Association

Swieqi Pressure Group