Austin Gatt’s ministry reacts to Vella’s comments on Piano
Austin Gatt’s ministry for infrastructure, transport and communications has rebutted claims by Astrid Vella – spokesperson for Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar – that the new Valletta parliament did not have any popular backing.
Writing in MaltaToday last Sunday, Vella said that “nobody had asked for a parliament”, referring to plans by the architect Renzo Piano for Valletta’s City Gate and Freedom Square.
But Gatt’s ministry (MITC) has replied to her claims of “indifference to the wishes of the people” by saying that Vella has anointed herself “spokesman of the people”.
“With all due respect to her opinion, to which she is certainly entitled, the government also has feedback that several members of the public appreciate and agree with what is being suggested for the site. Certainly there is no unanimity one way or the other but after 60 years of debate we feel it is time for choices. With all due respect to Ms Vella, whose contribution is as always more than welcome, we do believe that the choices being made for the entrance of the city will be a fitting legacy to future generations,” the ministry said.
The MITC said government’s brief to Piano was for a new parliament building to be designed over the former Opera House. However, it said Piano proposed to restore the Opera House into a new theatre, and move the parliament to Freedom Square.
“Though she certainly took her time to put together her views, Ms Vella seems not to have looked close enough to the published plans,” the MITC said, adding that contrary to Vella’s claims, no part of the old bastions will be removed.
“The proposed gate replaces the existing gate which is not more than forty years old. Nothing of the original bastions will have to be knocked down,” it said.
Referring to the use of the proposed open-air theatre, which will be limited in the winter due to weather conditions, the MITC said that even “closed” theatres are not used for a good part of the year. “Although there is a substantial investment in the theatre, the amount of €40 million quoted by Ms Vella is excessive. It was stated that ‘the symbolic preservation of ruins usually relates to structures which are thousands of years old.’ Certainly older ruins are more valuable than more recent ones, but there is something to be said for the memory the war ruins of the Opera House represent to our nation. One would have to ask again if Ms Vella is uncharacteristically arguing for the sweeping away of a heritage site.”
The MITC said regeneration plans for Fort St Elmo can be used as a cultural space, and that it was “wrong to argue that building a parliament is equiavalent to passing on the last ever chance from erecting an exhibition hall.”
It said that Malta was unique in not having a parliament building. “In the scheme of things, it’s a consideration not to be ignored, even by Ms Vella. It is somewhat strange that she does not appreciate the simple reality that this move will release the Grandmasters’ Palace to become what it should always have been – the gem of our heritage in Valletta fully accessible to one and all at all times.”
Gatt’s ministry described the parliament proposal as a “long-held dream of our forefathers to determine our future.”
“It may be ‘fashionable’ to denigrate parliament and politicians… Snide and sarcastic remarks on the ‘need’ of a new parliament to house ‘our politicians’ are more a reflection on who makes the remarks,” the ministry said.
On the matter of accessibility into Valletta, the MITA said it agreed with Vella on the priority of transporattion. It said it is focusing on improving water connections, as well as access by public transport and private cars.
But it called a “gross exaggeration” Vella’s claim that the new parliament will be replacing 2,000 cars. “If it were true it would be hard to understand how this would be undesirable for an organisation that rightly complains about congestion. The facts are that approximately 485 spaces will be removed and an additional 635 spaces as alternatives are being created at the Park & Ride area in Blata l-Bajda alone.”
The MITC denied that the St Elmo regeneration had been stalled due to lack of funds, adding that it will be applying for European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) this year.
“We also appreciate that Ms Vella took her time in reacting to Mr Piano’s work. However for the record she is wrong (again) in her impression that Mr Piano was commissioned to draw up these plans over three years ago. Mr Piano received his brief late last year,” the MITC said.
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