Heritage trust defends Superintendence

Din l-Art Helwa said yesterday it was concerned at the criticism levelled at the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage by certain public sectors over the delay in works at the Marsa port, where important Roman archaeological remains have been found.

The NGO, a heritage trust, said the Superintendence has a responsibility to the government and people of Malta to protect all sites of archaeological importance when they are discovered.

"With the level of development taking place, finds are made almost daily and it would be a very insensitive ministry that would dare step roughshod over the recommendations made by the Superintendent and his small team of experts, especially where the ministry started works without the required permits, thus causing the initial delays.

"The Superintendence has very limited resources available to it and some of the possible delays could be attributed to this," Din l-Art Helwa said.

It said it fully supports the stand taken by Anthony Pace, the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, on the Roman remains at Marsa, and urges the relevant ministry to exercise caution with regard to Malta's archaeological heritage.

Furthermore, the organisation recommended that the wider area be adequately protected by conservation and scheduling. Din l-Art Helwa said it urged the government to prepare contingency plans and alternatives should the anticipated method of constructing a channel over the site prove unfeasible.

It said it also recommends giving the Superintendence adequate resources to follow public works in areas of known historical sensitivity.

"This was the case with new finds at the Victoria Lines, where an environmental monitoring team has pre-empted damage to new evidence of the fortifications being found during works being carried out by the Roads Ministry.

"Din l-Art Helwa commends the sensitivity shown in this instance and proposes that the same use of careful monitoring be exerted in other ministries responsible for public works in areas of potential cultural heritage."