Free entry to St John's Co-Cathedral (1)

I read with interest the letter Co-Cathedral Fees (May 30) by Paul A. Attard, the president of the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, and felt that I should make my own observations regarding this subject.

Whereas in the main I do agree with the writer, that because of the not inconsiderable expenses involved in the upkeep and maintenance of our national monuments, an entrance fee should be charged, I fail to understand why we Maltese should be made to pay to visit our own natural heritage.

I have lived abroad for many years and many of my friends come to visit regularly and as such I end up taking them to see places in interest.

This tends to become very expensive and I am now resigned to either not taking them or waiting for them outside, which makes them feel awkward and so they do not go in! As Mr Abela rightly points out, the government does make a "substantial contribution annually" but one does not have to be a rocket scientist to realise that this contribution comes from taxes that we have paid and still pay, so have we not earned the right to visit such places at no charge?

I have just returned from a visit to Venice, and although the city itself is hellishly expensive, people who reside in the town and its environs do not have to pay to visit any of their many museums etc. This system can easily be administered as all Maltese people will have to do is produce their ID Cards to gain admission.

It would be interesting to know just how much money the Foundation will lose by removing this charge as in my case what they lose out of my fee will more than be made up by the charge that my visitors will pay.