The national cultural heritage was in crisis and the government needed to urgently allocate more funds to it, Labour MP Evarist Bartolo said in Parliament yesterday.

Speaking during the debate on the financial estimates of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, Heritage Malta and the Malta Centre for Restoration, Mr Bartolo regretted that sections of the Cultural Heritage Act had still not been implemented well.

He said the financial situation of the superintendence was in a disastrous state. Unless the superintendence was given the funds and the people it needed to work, its setting up would have been in vain. The superintendence needed 26 members of staff but it only had 10.

Did the superintendence have the resources to monitor and stop divers from stealing more of Malta's underwater heritage? Indeed, was the superintendence able to stop the export of items of cultural heritage?

Mr Bartolo said there was still no satisfactory link between those who worked in the area of cultural heritage for the state and the Church. The Church could not act like it was a state within a state. It was important to see what was happening also to religious heritage.

Mr Bartolo insisted that all aspects of the cultural heritage should be grouped together for better coordination and planning.

On the restoration centre, Mr Bartolo said it was worrying that according to the Heritage Report 2004, local know-how on restoration was deteriorating rather than improving. He hoped that the restoration centre would give such a comment its due attention since Malta could not continue to rely just on foreigners. Indeed, some of the methods used by foreigners may not be appropriate for the materials used in Malta.

In its annual report the centre listed works carried out on several places in Malta, including private residences. Who paid for the works in the private residences?

Mr Bartolo said he was preoccupied by the fact that Heritage Malta had a deficit of close to Lm500,000. The management of Heritage Malta were optimistic that with the initiatives they would take, revenue would come in. What were these initiatives?

Mr Bartolo underscored the importance of cultural heritage for quality tourism. But it was important that heritage sites were well presented so as not to disappoint visitors. The country would have a competitive advantage in tourism if it better preserved and promoted its heritage.

Labour MP Joe Brincat, who spoke before Mr Bartolo asked why the accounts of Heritage Malta did not carry a personal signature but carried only the name of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Someone had to take responsibility for the accounts.

Dr Brincat said it appeared from the accounts that Heritage Malta still had to pay Lm229,000 in social security contributions. Had these been paid since?

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage had 12 employees, the budget for whom amounted to Lm63,000 last year. In a year this allocation was rising to Lm79,000 - a 25 per cent increase. An explanation was due since no one in Malta received such pay rises. One of the directors of Heritage Malta had a salary of Lm20,000. The person receiving this remuneration should be indicated.

The government had still not set up the Heritage Action Committee which was meant to be the interface between the superintendence and Mepa. There were cases where although the superintendence had the authority to issue conservation orders, it tried to ask Mepa to issue them.

When it came to the Malta Centre for Restoration, rationalisation was important. Why had Lm27,000 been spent on professional services? What were these services?

Dr Brincat said Heritage Malta in its report had boasted of carrying out work which was ordinary maintenance which everybody carried out, such as removing nails at the Inquisitors' Palace and clearing drains at the Museum of Fine Arts. Such detail was unnecessary. These were not the priorities which deserved to make it to the report.

Dr Brincat said that it was voluntary organisations which were giving culture soul and life.

Labour MP Roderick Galdes said that Malta was fortunate to have a wealth of heritage sites but better management and resources were needed for their potential to be realised.

The current situation was worrying, as pointed out recently by outgoing Din L-Art Helwa president Martin Scicluna.

There was still too much fragmentation in responsibility for the cultural heritage.

Mr Galdes highlighted the need to preserve the fortifications but insisted that interventions had to be of an acceptable standard.

Aspects of the restoration of Scamp's Palace at Vittoriosa were not adequate. Nor was the paving at Mdina, where the quality of the stone was not what one would have expected. Mr Galdes called for a comprehensive strategic plan for the cultural heritage which included input from all stakeholders including NGOs.

Replying, Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said he was amazed how an MP could give most importance to who signed the accounts. The accounts were drawn up and signed according to international norms, but he would have no difficulty in ensuring that the auditor's personal signature was carried.

He said salaries for Heritage Malta were increasing by 25 per cent because this would be the agency's first full year. The accounts so far had been for nine months.

Dr Zammit Dimech said he had been assured that Heritage Malta paid all social security contributions by December. The accounts were closed in September.

The director paid Lm20,000 was the former chairman who was also CEO.

He said the Heritage Malta report did not just go into the regular maintenance of cultural sites but also in the substantial work that had been carried out, for which the agency deserved credit.

The minister said the professional services mentioned by the opposition were needed for studies at Tarxien Temples. How could anyone carry out a serious project on an important site without thorough study.

Dr Zammit Dimech said he agreed with Mr Bartolo that the superintendence needed more resources and it was true that the budget did not reflect this. A restructuring of resources was currently being carried out for capacity building where necessary.

He also agreed that more coordination was needed with the Church on cultural heritage. The law provided for the setting up of a structure by the Church which would include government representation. Talks had been held and the required people were appointed.

Dr Zammit Dimech said he was informed that the comment that local knowhow on restoration was diminishing was not completely correct. When it came to stonework, for example, local knowledge was increasing.

He said he was assured that all work carried out in private properties by the Centre for Restoration had been paid for. It was the centre's intention to increase such services.

On additional funds for Heritage Malta, he said the aim was for the agency to consolidate its revenue from entry fees. But it was also seeking income through private sponsorships and events.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the paving works at Mdina had been preceded by excavation and studies which shed new light on the former capital. A precise study had been made before the material for the paving was selected.

Turning to the Conservation and Interpretation Project at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, Dr Zammit Dimech said the plan was for the temples to be covered in a way which did not detract attention from the temples themselves. The cover had to be such that it could be easily removed. Much attention was being placed on climatic effect. Even Unesco had an interest in ensuring that everything was done according to the professional advice being given. This was an important and ambitious project that was well on track.

The minister said that the Mnajdra temples were visited by 48,000 people last year, up from 15,000 in 2003, the Museum of Archaeology was visited by over 14,000 from 11,600 the year before. Practically in every site an increase in the number of visitors was registered although he agreed that these numbers should continue to go up.

The estimates were later approved after a division. The minister's opening remarks are being carried separately.

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