Beyond the bastion walls

May I congratulate the Vittoriosa residents for the spectacular Birgu by Candlelight event. It is of great satisfaction to see localities and residents taking pride in their local heritage, culture and city appearance to such an extent that they display their city's greatness to both local and foreign visitors. Well done to the organisers for the success achieved.

On the other hand, one can't but be disappointed that Fort St Angelo (picture), a world gem where forts are concerned, wasn't opened up to the public for such an event. A bigger disappointment is the fact that the Sovereign Military Order of Malta had been granted the exclusive use by the Government of Malta of the uppermost/innermost level of the fort for 99 years, as a seat in Malta for its international humanitarian and cultural activities, but the fort is shut off to the public.

I can't understand how this prime fort with all its magnificence isn't granted the highest status it deserves with events such as permanent exhibitions, the moving of some of the Maltese traditional shops from Ta' Qali crafts village to the fort, using parts of the fort for the In Guardia re-enactments and simply to be admired by Maltese and tourists. Surely we could entrust Heritage Malta (with all the success stories behind its restoration works and inclusion of heritage sites for public admiration) to use their imagination for the proper use of this prime fort.

It's a pity that even when having a peek from outside the gates of the fort along with some Irish friends, we were greeted by an angry watchman (he should be given some PR training on how to communicate with people), during Birgu by Candlelight. I am sure that if the fort were in any other country it would be their pride and joy, not shut off from public view.