'Radical but just'

This was how developer Anglu Xuereb described the agenda of the new right-wing party he launched together with Josie Muscat and Philip Beattie on Saturday: "Radical but just".

Azzjoni Nazzjonali, according to Mr Xuereb, will ensure "developments that are carried out with the least possible inconvenience to people living in the vicinity". Nice words indeed, if only Mr Xuereb gives proof in deed!

One of the oldest buildings we have in Sliema is the chapel of Our Lady of Graces in High Street, dating back to 1802. It was the only church in the Sliema area until 1855. It boasts two priceless paintings by Mattia Preti.

At the time of its 200th anniversary, the previous parish priest of Stella Maris, Fr Raphael Pace Lupi, had collected thousands of liri to have the chapel restored to its simple beauty and the works were completed two years ago. Unfortunately, the building works on Mr Xuereb's new five-star hotel, The Palace, next to the chapel wrought what not even two centuries could.

When Mr Xuereb's excavation works had started, Fr Pace Lupi and myself had drawn AX Holdings' attention to the fact that extra care needed to be afforded to the chapel. The present parish priest, Fr Joe Bartolo, had also reiterated our fears with the developers.

Fr Victor Soler, who lives just 10 metres away, just opposite the chapel, had spoken to me several times about his niggling worries that the chapel would be damaged. It was indeed. One cannot imagine what was going through his mind as tears welled up in his eyes upon seeing the structural damage to the chapel and its cracked dome, ceiling and walls on the afternoon of March 1 this year.

The Divine Graces chapel has been closed since March. Every single year since I can remember, a Holy Week exhibition is held in the chapel. It wasn't this year. What was our little treasure in the midst of so much development is now a closed, dangerous building still waiting for works to be carried out by AX Holdings. Next to it, Mr Xuereb's new hotel will soon be all spick and span waiting for its grand opening.

This is not just the type of inconvenience Mr Xuereb now promises to tackle. It's much more. In an area with a dearth of historic buildings, this is a prime piece of our forefathers' legacy damaged and closed.

Mr Xuereb should give back to Sliema residents and Maltese heritage lovers the chapel in a fit state now. Other developers might dawdle to delay. But Mr Xuereb is no longer just an ordinary developer. He is now a national politician as well under the banner of "seriousness and justice" which, in this case, are promises he should keep.

The Sliema local council as well should be breathing down Mr Xuereb's neck to have this piece of history returned to us now.

Developments and hotels can be replaced. Treasures cannot. It would be tragic for Sliema to gain yet another hotel, however grandly named, in its contentious rush to build up yet lose a central part of its past.

Mr Xuereb on Saturday said his party will be "radical but just".

Returning Our Lady of Graces chapel to Sliema residents and Maltese heritage lovers now is precisely what is needed of politicians that do not just churn out empty slogans.

Mr Xuereb has an excellent opportunity to show that he is not another one of what Dr Muscat on Saturday called "the politicians who completely disregard the people".

eddiea@onvol.net