Undersea research and reconnaissance work being conducted by Heritage Malta in association with an American institution was yielding enough important artefacts to fill a museum, Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told Parliament yesterday.

He said the authorities were being careful at this stage not to give too much detail, particularly about where the research was being carried out, for obvious reasons.

But he was pleased to announce that thanks to modern technology employed by this American institution, many important artefacts had been recovered and much more was likely to be discovered.

The minister was speaking at the opening of the debate on the financial estimates of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta.

He said cultural heritage gave identity to the Maltese people.

Heritage Malta, the national agency which managed government cultural sites was carrying out a wide array of activities, notably in the sectors of education and public awareness, the maintenance and improvement of cultural sites, and projects in association with the EU, including participation in international exhibitions. It was also involved in research, conservation, promotion of Malta's cultural treasures and cultural exchanges, as evidenced by the current exhibition of China's Terracotta soldiers.

Between 2005-2006 the agency held 219 events and activities including activities in four countries. It held 80 lectures, published many heritage guides, opened five new retail outlets and promoted heritage trails. It worked closely on projects with NGOs and also achieved sponsorship agreements with various organisations, such as the HSBC Cares for Heritage and, lately, a sponsorship by GasanMamo for the Armoury.

Over the past year Heritage Malta hosted a conference on Tourism and Malta's Maritime History. The Heritage Malta membership scheme had grown to 950 members and the agency was also promoting volunteer groups.

A veritable showcase of Malta's history was also being permanently displayed at the airport's arrivals lounge.

The agency had held talks with the University and Mcast on restoration courses.

Work had continued on the major Mnajdra/Hagar Qim project which involved the construction, by the end of this year, of a shelter over the temples. That would be followed by a visitors' centre, work on which would start in the coming months.

Dr Zammit Dimech said rehabilitation and upgrading work was taking place in many museums and sites where displays were being improved and visitors were being given easier access, such as through the installation of lifts.

At Ggantija, technical works had been completed ahead of the building of a temporary visitors' centre before the building of a permanent one.

Fort Delimara had been earmarked for rehabilitation through a public private partnership.

The minister said capital projects for this year would cost Heritage Malta in excess of Lm4.5 million.

Turning to the regulatory Superintendence of National Heritage, the minister said particularly important had been the work done on the national cultural heritage inventory IT system.

The superintendence had also published the National Strategy for Cultural Heritage.

The minister said the superintendence was investing strongly in its human resources and calls would be issued shortly for various posts.

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