Heavy festa-related activity caused several long traffic jams across Malta this morning.
While the traditional festa season ends in mid-September, the end of the month sees the start of the autumn/winter festa season, with five different feasts taking place at the same time today.
The processions of the feasts of San Idghi, San Salli, San Tajjarkulmaw, San Ibki and San Durlurawimmuriddar caused widespread congestion on the roads, with cars having to take alternative routes as the statues of the aforementioned saints and their respective enthusiasts passed through Buqana Road, Mdina Road, the Mriehel and Birkirkara bypasses, Aldo Moro Road and the Coast Road.
“As I’ve stated previously, feasts are a main cause of traffic in Malta, and today’s delays were a consequence of having so many of them, all year round,” Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia told Bis-Serjetà.
“Now, we could ban feasts, but that would of course be a breach of religious freedom, a fundamental human right,” he added.
Asked whether it would instead be possible to reduce the number of cars on Maltese roads, the minister said:
“I just told you I’m not prepared to breach fundamental human rights, and you immediately suggest I commit a genocide. Are you really suggesting I should have thousands of people murdered just so the rest can get to their destinations quicker? What sort of monster are you?
“Although to be fair Ian Borg did actually suggest this when he was Transport Minister and it was only shot down because it would cost too much,” he added.
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