Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/638406
2 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 10 FEbruArY 2016 News Carnival organisers hail this year's edition as a success A healthy turnout and a jump in quality among float-makers were among the reasons Carnival 2016 could be considered a success, ac- cording to Carnival Artistic Direc- tor Jason Busuttil. "Carnival was a success this year. Valletta was so full of people dur- ing the past weekend that you could barely move. And this year the jury members are going to find it hard to choose the winner from the partici- pants because everyone presented work of high quality: floats, cos- tumes and dance choreographies. It's going to be a tough competi- tion," Busuttil said. As carnival came to an end yes- terday, Busuttil pointed out that apart from the traditional events, new ones also proved to be a huge success. "Carnival in Hamrun was also a success. We didn't expect so many people. St Joseph's High Street was full and this en- courages us to extend Carnival to further localities, not limit it only to Valletta," explained the artistic director. He added that the workshops be- low Pjazza Teatru Rjal were always busy with children working with papier mâché and the candy float was a great attraction. It is a mini- ature float with all the mechanisms the normal floats have but built from sweets, not paper mâché. Bu- suttil wishes more confectioners would participate in next year's ex- hibition. Il-Qarcilla too is increasing in popularity: this year it was per- formed twice during Carnival, whilst in the past years it was per- formed only once. Another new activity is the nation- al competition for the best Carnival costume, which hasn't happened in a while. This was organised yester- day at noon by Arts Council Malta in Piazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta and was aimed at children and youths aged between 5 and 16. All owners eligible for compensation PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Chris Mangion & ray attard Continues from Page 1 The At- torney General replied that if a transfer of government-owned land happens through an illegal contract, it can be contested. Furthermore, when the govern- ment expropriated part of the building in Old Mint Street, all owners were eligible for the right of compensation, yet only Marco Gaffarena was awarded such a right. "The government can choose to either compensate with money or exchange property. It can also over-value by 30%, but in this case the excess was far more than that allowed at law", Grech argued. Taking the witness stand, Notary Marisa Grech, Assist- ant Director Contracts at the Government Property Division, exhibited copies of the two con- tracts in question. Signed on 28 January, 2015, the first contract relates to the transfer of land in Manuel Dimech Street, Sliema, Tas-Salvatur at Siggiewi, land at Tal-Handaq and land in Bahar ic-Caghaq. The second contract, dated 10 April, 2015 regards land in Bahar ic-Caghaq and Zebbug. Both contracts were signed by Notary Anthony Lia. The case against Gaffarena, calling for the nullification of both contracts and the reversal of the tranfers of property, will be heard on 10 March before Ms Justice Anna Felice.