'Adequate security' for Caravaggio paintings

Claude Busuttil, executive secretary of St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, has denied claims by the General Workers' Union that the oratory where the priceless Caravaggio works are treasured lacked adequate security during choir rehearsals on Sunday mornings.

The rehearsals take place behind closed doors and the museum is not open to the public at the time of the rehearsals, Mr Busuttil told The Times.

But the GWU section secretary for services and the media, Karmenu Vella, said when contacted yesterday that the fact remained that if people entered the oratory where such priceless works of art are kept, all security measures should be observed.

Dr Busuttil was asked to comment about the dispute registered by the GWU with the foundation over the employment of full-time and casual part-time custodians for duties at the cathedral. The union claims some of the measures taken in their regard breach the law or the collective agreement and has asked the director of industrial relations and labour to investigate.

Full-time custodians have, for the past three months, been absent during choir rehearsals by a 40-member choir on Sunday mornings just metres away from the priceless Caravaggio works of art, the union claimed on Sunday.

Mr Vella said he had drawn the attention of Dr Busuttil about the issue of choir rehearsals and security last May.

In July, the Archbishop's attention was drawn to the matter but, Mr Vella said, the Archbishop passed on the complaint to the foundation saying that it was the foundation that was responsible.

Dr Busuttil said, however, that res-ponsibility for security at the cathedral on Sunday mornings lay with the Cathedral Chapter because at that time the museum was not open and religious functions were taking place.

Mr Busuttil added that in view of a shortage of custodians, one or two rooms at the Cathedral Museum were to be kept closed as from today. The foundation employs four full-time custodians and a number of casual part-time custodians.

Dr Busuttil added that the foundation had written to the GWU to explain the situation of part-time custodians who had worked more hours than they should have. In fact, he added, those who have worked more than 20 hours a week as stipulated by law were being compensated.

The foundation was also taking steps to ensure that part-time custodians would not be made to work over 20 hours a week, Dr Busuttil said.

Mr Vella said the union wanted an agreement with the foundation to regulate the employment conditions of the custodians.

Both the union and the foundation are also having talks with the director of labour over the issue.