Carnival blues – Rachel Borg

Carnival in Malta and Gozo is as much of an anticipated event as is Christmas or the Good Friday Procession. The talented and dedicated makers of the floats that parade the streets of Valletta, Floriana and other towns for the five days of Carnival invest their time, energy and funds throughout the year to present an entertaining and family-fun spectacular event.

Each year they risk the elements of rain, wind and cold destroying their float or keeping them in the hangar and having the event cancelled. Like the Gozo Ferry in gale force winds still crossing the channel, King Carnival is always expected to make an appearance and keep the carnival going in Valletta and in Nadur in Gozo.

This year, a tiny virus was responsible for cancelling Carnival. The wind and cold that is around this weekend would also have been a challenge to fight but if the figures of 2020 were anything to go by, where 60,000 revellers visited the carnival, then by itself the weather would not have dented the attendance much.

By January 2021, enquiries for accommodation in Gozo where already steaming ahead so much so that a quiet panic was setting in amongst the population, triggering memories of the effect that the New Year stays had induced on the prevalence of the virus. Till present we are still suffering the high numbers of cases due the R factor which keeps on spreading contagion around.

For tourism in Gozo, though, the arrival of bookings was going to be a welcome shot in the arm whilst we wait for the vaccine to take effect. The situation then began to change, as bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce and the MHRA began to raise their arguments in favour or against allowing the business to proceed without restriction and as normal.

A kind of compromise was reached where the establishments were made responsible, along with the tourists, to control the occupancy and ensure it did not exceed the stipulated permit for guests. Gozo Channel were also instructed to dampen the frequency of the ferries or the load factor and commuters were advised, against good practice, to stay in their car for the duration of the voyage. Attention was brought to the fact that this could cause harm and was ill advised.

In addition, no actual Carnival parade or spontaneous carnival celebration would be held. However, Carnival being a part of our culture and having spent months with a mask on our face, it would have been nice if we could get to wear a carnival mask instead and who knows what costumes and floats would have been created on the theme of the coronavirus?

Figures from the Gozo Tourism Association indicated a significant number of cancellations and a drop in the level of bookings compared to last year. Amongst the restrictions that were imposed over the carnival holiday period, the one that seemed to irk both the tourists and the accommodation owners was the fine that would be imposed on anyone found crowding the accommodation, with a fine of €2,329 for the licence holders and €100 each for the guests.

Many neighbours of rental farmhouses and apartments with pools have long complained of excessive noise and crowding. Calls to the police may or may not result in any action being taken. There seems to be a case of the “usual suspects” when it comes to breaking the law and getting away with it. However, if the action stipulated by the MTA to inspect properties had such a dampening effect on bookings, with cancellations coming from both the owners and the tourists, something has been going on below the surface and it either did not make enough economic sense to rent the property without the extra people added on, or simply, the risk was too high because the owners could not monitor the place 24/7.

It is, though, an example of enforcement hitting its purpose in ensuring health and safety in the present conditions.

The double standard that is normally evident in Malta is costing us dearly in every front, whether on health and safety, in the construction industry, in road safety and driving, law enforcement of drug policy, and in impunity for known participants in crimes and corruption.

A lack of proper policing, with reasonable and measured enforcement, will eventually lead to anarchy. We already can see it happening in Paceville and other notorious spots. In its extreme it may have resulted in the killing of a journalist.

It simply is not business as usual right now and will not be for a while. It would be far better if we could pull together and work towards emerging from the pandemic with as few deaths as possible and by helping to support the economy safely. It is simply unfair to bring more casualties onto the whole population for the sake of satisfying a culture of festivity and business opportunities.

The Carnival Committee and Għaqda Dilettanti tal-Karnival sacrificed a lot in curtailing their parades and dance competition for this year. The same will happen at Easter with the church processions due to be cancelled, including the Good Friday procession. Many people work tirelessly to make these events a success for attendants and to promote our country.

The difference between ignoring the reality and consequences of short-term gain against common sense, of a rule of law against a clear impunity, of institutions being allowed to work as they should and the protection of the citizen above all other vested interests is paramount to a civilized and orderly country. Unfortunately, a culture of disorder is quite popular amongst the Maltese and can damage the life of the rest who respect that rules are necessary. This also gives rise to conflict.

Ignoring the issue is immature and can border on irresponsible.

In the same way, depriving people of open spaces, places for relaxation and the need to work in order to keep the family on the bare minimum income has driven a more commercial culture amongst the Maltese. Every pavement is hogged with tables and chairs. For many a holiday is sacrosanct. For others, it means working on every holiday. The emphasis is on consumerism. As a country, we need to move away from an unsustainable drive for constant manufactured entertainment to a more healthy and peaceful way of life.

Still, we do hope that King Carnival can return to Valletta and Gozo next year and we can holiday safely and consciously.