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Michaela Muscat
Several Maltese firms outright refused or withdrew their support for the Claire Baluci organ concert “in aid for the children of Africa” after they found out that the money was going to help African children, MaltaToday has learnt.
The formal reason given by most of the companies was “that it was not for a local charity.” But the organisers are certain that it all boiled down to the fact that the children in need are African. “The one thing I noticed that spurred on a change in attitude was that we decided to do it for the children of Africa, rather than a local charity and it was one reason why they did not want to support us financially,” organiser and organist
Claire Baluci told this
newspaper.
The girls attempting to sell the concert tickets in Valletta also found it hard as the people they approached were extremely hostile to the idea of attending a charity event “for those Africans.” The lack of compassion and the possibility of a racist wave currently engulfing Malta were indeed reflected in the ticket sales of the concert that was held on Friday.
Despite the number of rejections and the initial negative feedback, Baluci and her crew were determined to soldier on, although “these comments hurt after they promise to help you out,” Baluci said about sponsors who pulled out. She said she was convinced this was the result of a backlash against refugees. “I was shocked that people told us we are helping children who will eventually end up as refugees here, so it’s better if they die.”
The accomplished organist said that some of the firms that pulled out at the last minute after having verbally agreed to support this charity event include some of the largest firms in Malta. Baluci usually sells out venues all over Europe but the sales were extremely slow at first and although they ended up picking up at the end the resulting punters “was below what we expected.”
She however had only kind words for the number of people and firms who at the end of the day supported the event. Baluci acknowledged that “Malta is going through a bad period but I can’t understand why we shouldn’t be helping out these children. I agree that charity begins at home but it shouldn’t end there.”
But the organisers are worried that if last Friday’s turnout is an indication of the ticket sales for future events, then it would not be possible to hold such other events again.
They had had refrained from declaring their preoccupations with what they perceive to be the racist attitude of a minority and also “wanted to avoid being sensationalist as they were afraid that people would hold a protest outside the venue.”
mmuscat@mediatoday.com.
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