When we look back we tend to remember something sinister for every politician: Lorry Sant, Patrick Holland, Lawrence Gatt, Giovanna Debono, and even George Pullicino. The latter for example, will be remembered for his insistence to go ahead with the extension of the development zones, a noteworthy event in the CV of this worthy minister who we will never forget in this column.
So when I visited Hagar Qim, I thought this must be the thing that remains enshrined in Dolores Cristina’s political history. Definitely, I cannot remember one thing which she can boast of. This is surely the greatest happening in her political career.
When my nephew and niece grow up and tell me to take them to Hagar Qim and ask me why and who allowed this ugliness to take shape next to these temples, I will tell them it was under Dolores Cristina, a minister I thought would prove herself to be different but turned out to be very similar to all the rest.
I still have not quite figured out why such a fuss is being made about the extension at St John’s Co-Cathedral, but not a whisper about the tragedy at Hagar Qim. True, the extension at St John’s is one of RCC’s dream projects and is intrinsically ‘incorrect’. But really and truly the threat posed by the extension is nothing compared to what is happening at Hagar Qim.
Everyone is saying what a wonderful thing Astrid Vella is doing for our heritage, but really I think that when the green lobby is in the hands of amateurs and romantics we can only expect to hear a lot of noise on one thing and no noise on the real issues.
If anyone wishes to feel really sick, they should visit Hagar Qim. There for everyone to witness is the incredible rudeness of the abominable structure that is standing next to the spectacle of Hagar Qim – 63% of which is sponsored by EU money, money going to something that is both hideous and blasphemous.
Really and truly the EU can stuff their money up where it hurts most, or else it can go on paying its MEPs grandiose salaries and perks, the same salaries that support people such as Louis Grech and David Casa.
We cannot really blame Joe Said, the business entrepreneur (read on), chosen by the shortsighted minister Dolores Cristina to head Heritage Malta, for what is happening at Hagar Qim. Even though I cannot see him object to such a development.
We should blame the former men who ran Heritage Malta and the people who take the decisions at MEPA, the organisation now under the capable hands of LG but previously under the command of George P, the trustworthy friend of tuna magnate Charles Azzopardi ‘il-poodle’. It was under George P that MEPA ignored the proposal to construct the visitors’ centre in a disused quarry close by.
This ruinous conclusion to Hagar Qim is of course no surprise at all. Under the shining reign of respective Maltese administrations, we have witnessed the most incompetent and irresponsible decisions towards our national heritage. In the late 1960s under a Nationalist administration, the curator at the time, a stern man with little time for criticism, allowed a boundary wall to cage the unique temple site.
In the 1970s, the drowsy premiership of Borg Olivier was replaced by the autocratic style of Dom Mintoff, who allowed quarrying to take place near Hagar Qim with the resultant damage to the temple sites. Mintoff did worse, by allowing a musical organised by dreary-eyed socialists to transform Hagar Qim into a theatrical stage. We were forced to listen to ballads about the proletariat and other rubbish on Dardir Malta. No amount of letters in the press or pleas would stop it.
When the Nationalists were returned to power in 1987 in what they believe was the Golden age, or the start to their 100-year reign, they too neglected Hagar Qim and Manjra. On many occasions groups of esoteric freaks would gather round and change the temples into their playing grounds and on several occasions a group of university students changed one of the temples into a temporary discotheque.
All the ministers for heritage, both Labourite and Nationalists, were of course very interested in talking about preservation but knew f*** all about it.
And when the brave Stanley Zammit, a PN junior minister, tried his hand at reforming the hunting laws only to be stopped in his path by his own party, including the secretary-general of the time Austin Gatt and Eddie Fenech Adami, some hunters and trappers turned their angst on the temples by toppling over centuries-old stones and daubing red slogans all over the place.
Lino Farrugia insisted that there was no proof that the bastards were indeed hunters but then neither did could he prove that they were not.
When government thought of removing the trapping sites around the temples, the then minister responsible for lands Tonio Borg did what he is best at: doing nothing. They remain there until this day.
And when of late the temples were once again attacked, the feeble response was another netting perimeter. Our traditional response to saving our heritage has been Gonzi-like throughout: sluggish, indecisive and counterproductive.
In the meantime Heritage Malta continues to believe that it has all the right answers to protecting our heritage. It does not. And we’d better start praying that someone replaces the present Astrid Vella to rally people of good faith to fight its little war against this pillage.
With all the smart asses at MEPA, all the professionals and scientists with their vast array of irrelevant reports and environmental indicators, no one seems to have managed to stop this act of villainy. Over the years our disregard for our national heritage is best exemplified by the lack of policy for a positive approach to the discovery of new sites whether they are archaeological or historical.
Take for example, the case of someone who discovers that his home lies over a Roman era temple or Neolithic dwelling. What does he or she do?
Well for one, he or she should not do what the ‘foolish’ Mark Causon did. The fellow was dumb enough to report the findings of Roman remains in his Rabat home to MEPA, who then under the captaincy of Andrew Calleja and spokesperson Sylvana Debono, together with the friendly columnists (or shall I say apologists) proceeded to demolish Mark Causon. The lesson to be learnt is that MEPA will obviously block any development, and so people like Mark Causon have a big hole in the middle of their home.
So in short, most people look the other way if they find special remains in their property, because they know the administration will not compensate them. And what’s more, they will make their life hell. Unless that is, you happen to have a double-barrelled surname and live in Mdina.
So when I talk of policy, I mean that Dolores Cristina does not have a clue for a strategy or a budget to allow her to encourage owners of land and property to report findings. We have a budget to pay hundreds of blue-eyed boys’ private contracts but no money for our heritage.
Answer to your questions
Some people who do not know Joe Said, have asked me why I have publicly criticised his appointment to Heritage Malta chairman. Well I have said that he has far too many business interests to allow him to be a worthy chairman of such an organisation.
Just to prove my point I would like to share some of the involvements of Mr Said, perhaps Ms Dolores C will be so kind to look at closely. Like her colleague George P, I am sure she’ll find nothing awkward in all this.
And before we go on, it would be opportune to erase a rumour being spread by some lonely Joe Said and Albert Mizzi admirers. The two gentlemen have a direct interest in that so called independent newspaper called The Independent. The latest rumour is that I do not stand their guts because I was fired from The Independent. Bollocks.
Well, the truth is that I quit, in fact twice. Once in anger at the sacking of Ray Bugeja by Joe Said et al, when a story about Alfred Sant’s annullment was published in the Independent – when it should have been Daphne who should have been asked to walk the plank, if anyone at all.
And the second occasion was when I was offered a “co-editorship” (yes, that’s right) of The Malta Independent on Sunday with Noel Grima. It was like being asked to have two chefs in one kitchen at the same time. A very typical visionary way of how Joe Said imagines organisations should be run under his directorship.
Well just in case Dolores C needs some updating, here is Mr Said’s little business interest hit-list where he appears as a director, a legal representative or shareholder or either or all at the same time.
A & V VON BROCKDORFF (SERVICES) LIMITED, CALCO LIMITED, CANNON ESTATES LTD, CAPITAL SERVICES LIMITED, EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED, FIRST GEMINI PLC, HOMEMATE COMPANY LIMITED, INSPIRATIONS LIMITED, INVESTKREDIT INTERNATIONAL BANK P.L.C, LOMBARD BANK MALTA plc, M.A.L. SERVICES LIMITED, MAC MED LIMITED, MACPHERSON MEDITERRANEAN LIMITED, MALTAPOST plc, PAINT CENTRES LIMITED, PIETA INVESTMENTS LIMITED, R.S.T. LIMITED, SAFACO LIMITED, SICULOMALTI LIMITED, STANDARD PUBLICATIONS LIMITED, TRANSEURO SYSTEMS, LIMITED
Laughing with, not at, Carmelo
Now Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici is a nice man albeit a simply nice man. So nice that we are supposed to accept the fact that the inquiry into the role of a drug baron and trafficker, and convicted criminal Leli Camilleri il-Bully at Kordin in dealings with former prison director Sandro Gatt, is indeed a very witty gesture.
It is of course a recipe for a whitewash and a waste of public funds and a mockery of investigating allegations, if there are any allegations at all. Mr Emanuel Cassar, who is conducting this inquiry, is the former director of prisons. Some time ago police superintendent Sandro Gatt resigned from the post of director because of the way he allowed il-Bully act as a middleman when it came to prisoners’ demands.
Mr Cassar is not someone who did not have his fair share of mishaps at the prisons. Unlike Mr Gatt, Mr Cassar is a much luckier person. Less affable and much tougher but with a history of allegations some written, others unspoken of at the time he was prison director.
So when Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici announced that he would ask Cassar to head the inquiry into the affair, we really asked ourselves if:
1 - Carmelo thinks the public is that stupid?
2 - If Carmelo is too naive to realise how ridiculous his choice of Cassar is?
3 - If Carmelo is really and truly trying to waste our time?
Summer is coming to an end
Our summer is coming to an end. Well, that is what we are being told though the heat, dust and humidity is simply unbearable. Perhaps it would be wiser to jot down a few thoughts for the ministers responsible for the department responsible for the shoreline and seas.
a) The filth and debris on the shoreline is a serious problem, so how about starting some intensive campaign to raise awareness about the shoreline?
b) The private lidos with no title at the shoreline have had a field day: can someone see to regulating them?
c) Bays such as Gnejna and Ramla are taken over by illegal kiosks and nobody seems to care, not even the NGO Gaia who are nowhere to be seen at Ramla.
d) The presence of garbage depots and the erection of toilets and shower facilities at beaches should be revisited.
e) The shoreline in Sliema, St Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Gozo should have adequate walking paths and causeways.
f) Marinas should have facilities for holding tanks to be discharged, and the use of cleaning agents of boats in marinas should be regulated.
Needless to say, if I am still around next year, none of the six points raised here will be considered, let alone seen too.
Clyde Puli
Clyde Puli has refused to be interviewed by this newspaper because he said he has too much on his plate. For someone who spent 16 days at the Olympics together with his family in China, I find his answer somewhat evasive.
If you do not mind, I will put Clyde Puli’s decision down to one simple thing. He cannot face MaltaToday’s questioning and he is basically chickening out. He deserves a gold medalfor open government.
Now if you do not mind I will be taking a break from this entire circus!
