The Opera House

Much has already been written about the old Opera House site but I wish to make a couple of points: first, the Opera House should undoubtedly be rebuilt as it was originally; after all, important buildings in Europe, similarly destroyed in the war, have been restored to their original splendour.

Secondly, the work should be entrusted to architects who know and love, the likes of Quarenghi and Rastrelli.

Architects who are the creators of multicoloured box-like structures and who have never created a building in the baroque style worthy of occupying a place in Valletta ahould obviously be ruled out and not allowed to meddle with buildings in Valletta. Let them indulge in their favourite style on buildings in outlying districts which have already been ruined and characterless like St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, and Paceville.

The use of an Opera House is obviously for staging operas and not to serve as an arts centre or as a Parliament building. The arts centre at St James Cavalier is adequate and is serving its purpose.

As for Parliament, if there is any need at all to move out of the President's Palace (which I do not think there is), could very well be housed in Fort St Elmo.

This would result in the rehabilitation and maintenance of this fort: we all know the state of this building - only an uncivilised state would allow this fort to remain in the pitiable state it is in.