The gate leading to the Vittoriosa Marina was built by the British Admiralty and happily survived war damage. It carries the coat of arms of the British Empire and also a distinctive feature, the sculptured head of a cow, a symbol to denote that in the immediate vicinity stood the Victualling Yard. With the building of the Naval Bakery (now the Maritime Museum) in the 1840s, the Victualling Yard became the main supplier of the British Fleet in the Mediterranean.

A year or two ago when works were underway on the new marina development, a private contractor accidentally hit the archway and smashed the cow-head. Despite various pleas by the Vittoriosa Historical and Cultural Society, no action has yet been taken. Had the damage been done to a lamp-post or some other public property, those responsible would have been requested to pay.

The offending contractor should rather be booked and made to carry out the repair of the defaced sculpture. Our society insists on the restoration of the damage done without further delay. The carers of our national heritage should take prompt remedial action because otherwise the gate will remain without its cow-head forever and the offender will run away scot-free.