An abandoned national gem

What sad reading The Times' report (November 1) on the "Workshop on Fort St Elmo" makes! It makes me doubly sad that other commitments prevented my attending it, even if our association was duly represented.

Clearly, judging by the report's heading, the ball is (it probably always has been) now squarely back in the politicians' court to show that there really is the political will to do something serious about this national gem.

In the midst of what seems to be - judging by the newspaper report - emerging as a clash of various (are they vested?) interests, this is the time for cool heads to see what can be done in the present situation.

It is a time for action, and no action will ever please all interests. But action there must be, and it must be thought out, inputted into through invitations to interested organisations to come forward with clear, written suggestions, and supported by the government.

The 3/11 Regiment RMA(T) Association, which first brought up the plight of this historic fort to the President of the Republic when he hosted us during our 30th anniversary celebrations, has very clear ideas about what should immediately be considered if a start is to be made on what is inevitably a very long rehabilitation project, given the state that the place is now in. Let us set out how we see things.

Security of the place is an absolute priority and this can only be properly done by immediately getting the army back in there full time. They must have full authority to monitor and guard all parts of the fort (excepting possibly the Police Academy) and they must be clearly told that they will be there for a very long time, with in later years their presence there (as we outline in one model example hereunder) also being one which benefits the nation even in a touristic sense.

The government must immediately appoint a sub-committee of Heritage Malta which, working hand-in-hand with the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee, will invite all interested local and foreign bodies and individuals to submit (in formal written format and within a set time period) their own ideas about how they see the place repristinated.

Once the above two steps have been taken, then the delicate step of choosing a holistic short, medium and long term plan for both St Elmo and its environment must be taken up in earnest. There are several uses to which a salvaged St Elmo can be put. Some are mutually exclusive, others are compatible. Some involve only the buildings and internal grounds and big roof, others would need adjoining streets to be also seen as part of the whole. Let us very sketchily look at a few examples.

The Edinburgh Castle/Tattoo model: An army regiment (it could even be the Italian military mission!) occupying St Elmo full-time as its living and working quarters, with, within it, premises for the National War Museum, the Royal British Legion (Malta Branch) and offices for the various still very active ex-servicemen's associations we have in the country, and with - a sine qua non - a big military tattoo to be held annually either within the fort or, also, using the wide road outside it from the Gun Post on the Marsamxett bastion. Consider the tourist attraction potential of such events.

The academic environment model: St Elmo, either as an extension of the University of Malta (say the Arts Faculty, the Mediterranean Institute, the EDRC and the Diplomatic Studies Academy) or placed in the hands of a big foreign university, or academic institution, that is prepared to spend rehabilitation-and-use money on it.

The pure touristic model: This will be an approach in a certain sense similar to that used for the Manoel Island and Tignè projects. Profit, speculation, and some glitzy compromise to marry touristic occupation with face-save restoration might well result. Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, and others (probably even ourselves), could be anything but happy with such a choice.

The international institution model: Malta, as an EU member state, or in its role as member of so many other international organisations and/or institutions, must (this will be a challenge for our diplomats' selling abilities if chosen as the part to follow!) try hard to get here some such body and (profitably for the country) rehabilitate and use the place.

All of the above must however be accompanied by unending bagfuls of cross-party goodwill, and resoluteness, and love for the place. Money, people (including the police and army!), and time, need to be committed to such operation.

Some academic pettiness and self-promotion interests would need to be put aside by certain people (including some fortification experts!) or organisations if the project is to move forward, and, yes, as soon as possible the presence of governmental authority over the place (squatters and carnival floats must simply be forced to depart elsewhere) fully asserted immediately once again. Let's move on!

This opinion is the view of the 3/11 Regiment RMA(T) Association of which the writer is the honorary secretary.