Construction of Marsa Carnival Village to start soon

Carnival Village construction to start soon

The construction of a "carnival village" at a large site in Marsa will be starting soon, with the project expected to be finished by the end of next year.

The project aims to give carnival enthusiasts a space where they can creatively express their ideas and store their floats.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, addressing a press conference on Wednesday, a few days before this year's carnival season is due to start, said the site in question had been chosen by the enthusiasts themselves due to its proximity to Valletta and its considerable size.

The site previously used to house government offices, which where demolished to make space for the project, following the issuance of the required permits and the following of the due planning process. All employees who worked in the building were gradually relocated.

Minister Owen Bonnici (second from left) said Sunday's storm had highlighted the need for a carnival village

Bonnici said that the importance of having such a carnival village constructed was highlighted by the fact that the severe storm last weekend had destroyed a float and damaged numerous others. The floats had been stored under a durable tent provided by the government, which, due to the unusually strong winds, hadn't managed to protect the carnival structures fully.

The government has offered to help the enthusiasts fix their damaged floats, and work in this regard is progressing well, he said.

"Four of the six tenders necessary for the construction of the carnival village have already been issued and adjudicated, and once the process for the final two is complete, the project will start," Bonnici said, adding that all work should be ready by end 2020.

Carnival artistic director Jason Busuttil said that this year's carnival programme is vast, and despite the damage incurred by some of the floats, the stage is being set to launch carnival this weekend.

"Some floats were damaged, but the government offered to help the enthusiasts financially in order for them to be repaired," Busuttil said, "The floats are of a very high level, and this year's carnival will be giving life to Valletta's streets."