News | Sunday, 11 January 2009

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St John’s calls for public’s say on controversy

The President of St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation Mgr Philip Calleja yesterday welcomed the news that MEPA made public the Project Description Statement (PDS) for the forthcoming Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) on the proposed extension co-cathedral’s museum.
Mgr Calleja said that with the PDS available for public consultation at MEPA and at the Valletta council, it was now time for NGOs and interested parties to have their say and put forward their proposals on what the EIA should be looking into.
“Any individual or organisation may, within the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the EIA, put forward any suggestions on issues that may be included in the studies that will determine the impact that the proposed museum extension may have on the Co-Cathedral or its surrounding environment and that will identify any potential risks to the Co-Cathedral itself,” Mgr Calleja said.
MEPA published a notice last week in the Government Gazette
informing the general public that the PDS for the EIA of the proposed extension of St John’s Co-Cathedral’s Museum had been released for consultation.
Mgr Calleja added that the Foundation has always put the interest of St John’s Co-Cathedral first and it shall continue to do so.
“The St John’s Foundation is committed to ensuring that the proposed project will not endanger the fabric of the Co-Cathedral, but will instead be conducive towards the enrichment of Malta’s cultural and religious heritage. This requires a detailed and independent Impact Assessment that will be carried out in consultation with the general public and civil society.”

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