Din l-Art Ħelwa is dismayed that permission was granted for the FESTA ROCS event around Triton Fountain, which devalues the historic context of the site and the entrance to our capital city, a World Heritage Centre. This is just the latest example of how exploitation of a public space is spiralling out of control without any policy or guidelines – let alone respect for this site.
 
Over the years, the site has hosted regular events which at least had a cultural and social aspect. However, this particular event has crossed a line when it comes to commercial interests and has turned the area into a brazen bazaar for an extended period. 
 
Apart from this, the physical extents of the FESTA ROCS bazaar has meant that public access across this busy area has been sorely limited, with all the implications associated with this.