Pullicino Orlando hits out at St John's Museum plans
Restoration of Fort St Elmo would cost a fraction of the costs for the extension of St John's Museum.
Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has called on the government to divert EU funds allocated for the ‘extravagant’ underground extension of St John’s Co-Cathedral Museum to the urgent restoration of Forts St Elmo and St Angelo.
Speaking in Parliament this morning, Dr Pullicino Orlando said sections of these historic forts were in a shameful state. Architect Edward Said, who had inspected Fort St Elmo had found that parts could collapse with just a kick. Parliamentary Secretary Mario deMarco had also rightly drawn attention to the urgency of restoring this fort.
Dr Pullicino Orlando said he could not understand how the government had sought €14 million from EU structural and cohesion funds for the controversial St John’s project when the two forts could be restored with a third of that amount. The country, clearly, needed to recognise its priorities and he was appealing to the Planning and Priorities Division in the Office of the Prime Minister to reconsider.
Indeed, one had to wonder how the St John’s project was selected for EU funding in the first place. This would take more funds than the archaeological conservation project of Heritage Malta and the tourism zones upgrade of the MTA.
The proposed project at St John’s would cause major inconvenience while works were in progress and it was difficult to believe it would not damage the Co-Cathedral itself. The responsible architect himself was not giving guarantees.
And once the Cathedral foundation itself had stopped a neighbouring shop from digging a small hole for a safe, because of the risk of damage to the Cathedral, how could it then apply to dig a whole quarry outside St John’s?
Furthermore, was it true that there would also be tunnels under the Cathedral itself for access purposes? And did anyone believe these would not cause damage to the historic edifice? The development would probably also damage Valletta's historic tunnels.
Dr Pullicino Orlando said he also disagreed with changes proposed to the churchyard where the knights were buried.
The new museum would also have huge maintenance costs. Surely it made more sense to use such funds on restoration works? The environment impact assessment on its own would cost €50,000. And at the same time other historic jewels were in real danger of being lost for ever.
Dr Pullicino Orlando urged the foundation to seek cheaper and more viable alternatives, including exhibiting some of the museum items in a nearby palazzo.
"Should the government go ahead with this project, it would be acting like a father who lets his children run about in old, torn clothes, while he buys a BMW to impress his friends. Given its limited resources, this country clearly needs to set its priorities," Dr Pullicino Orlando said.
The Nationalist MP welcomed government plans to cover Hagar Qim and carry out works at Tarxien and Ggantija temples, St Paul Catacombs and sections of the ramparts at Cottonera, Mdina and Valletta.
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C. Attard
Nov 15th 2008, 16:47
JPO now do the next step!
CHRISTOPHER PACE
Nov 15th 2008, 16:35
It's very easy speaking out trying to appear some sort of hero, more difficult putting words into practice.. Actions speak louder than words, and in his case JPO's past actions will always ensure that his 'brave' words be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt.
L. Micallef
Nov 15th 2008, 15:38
The endless arguments continue and even JPO's past needs revisiting when he takes a strong and solid stand against the St John's Cathderal project. If we are against it, let's stand with him and other organisations such as Flimkien ghal ambient ahjar to make sure that our voices are heard. What confuses me is that it is said that the Cathedral is a Grade A listed building, which means that it cannot be changed or compromised in any way. Where lies the difficulty in saying "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO". As everybody is saying, it is not as though the money would go to waste with so much of Malta in dire need of restoration.
J Martinelli
Nov 15th 2008, 14:55
@ A Gauci Cunningham
JPO has an opinion and I find nothing wrong with him expressing it in Parliament except I find the timing wrong..
For example, why let the Foundation spend thousands upon thousands in an Environmental Impact Assessment when there is a preconceived stand against the project?
If an expert and totally independent report is produced favouring the project, are we to turn the project down, anyway? Who are we supposed to believe? And, if we are not prepared to accept an independent report, why spend the money to obtain it?
If disturbing the very foundations of the Tower of Pisa and reinforcing it, was courageously undertaken and very successfully completed, why cannot the feasibility of the St. John project be at least explored and then judgment passed on the results of the findings?
You cannot start an argument by the words 'if it is true' because you would be undermining the argument which follows. In this case I ask, was this business using conventional methods (jackhammers) to dig the hole? I believe that the Foundation knows of much more modern and almost vibration-less methods though more expensive, to accomplish the same job while minimizing the danger.
K.Abela
Nov 15th 2008, 08:35
@S.Bugeja
I fully agree with the first part of your reasoning but not the second. I completley support the argument but i would never support the person . Sorry but he let everyone down...
A.Gauci Cunningham
Nov 14th 2008, 20:15
@Martinelli-----if it is true that the Foundation opposed a neighbouring business from digging a room underground due to possible harm to the Co-Cathedral then in the Foundation's own words this project is bad. If a hole is bad a quarry is horrendous!!
Prosit JPO for speaking up......that is what I call party loyalty, speaking up when things are not as good as they should be, when certain decions go against the national interest. It is precisely this that makes JPO a Politician worth his salt, a politician who lost most of his popularity and admiration but failed to loose his ability to speak up and criticise his own Party when it errs....
If needs be JPO should push this to the national agenda and do what he did with the Siggiewi Cement Plant when he was quite adamant not to accept it!!! We will be behind you!!
J Martinelli
Nov 14th 2008, 18:14
All 'aging' structures of national importance are priorities and one should not politicize the 'order of priorities'. Forts St. Elmo and St. Angelo are indeed important and any parts which are in imminent danger should, at least temporarily, be saved and reinforced.
However, the St. John's Cathedral project is unique in that the main purpose of its proposal is indeed to protect 'priceless' tapestries which are being restored at a tremendous cost even if some of these costs are being underwritten by other than local sources.
Why Dr. Pullicino Orlando chose to politicize this matter the way he did, without carrying meticulous research in the Foundation's correct procedures is beyond comprehension. The only thing I can think of is perhaps a haphazard way of redeeming himself being found quite short in his concern environmentally or otherwise, regarding the Mistra saga?
The St. John's Foundation is doing what it has been asked to do and has no guarantees that the project as presented will be approved.
So, why jump the gun Jeffrey?
john zammit
Nov 14th 2008, 14:37
well done JPO, I always supported you. keep on d good work.
respect
john.
D. Spiteri
Nov 14th 2008, 14:26
@ s.bugeja
Although I concur with the same thoughts as JPO, I still have doubts of his intentions. I think this is all a pre set theatrical PR to help us forget his not so distant past stories.
Joe Morana
Nov 14th 2008, 13:24
The MRRA workers are doing a good clean-up job at Lower Fort St Elmo and they have already removed 70 tonnes of rubbish and today (14/11/2008) they have cleared the remaining truckolads of rubbish. WELL DONE.
s.bugeja
Nov 14th 2008, 11:41
to all those wo re critising JPO for his past misdeneaners. If it was someone else blasting the St. John's plans would you support him? the important thing is the message not the messanger.That's what matters. so let's support him and all those who have the same idea.
Charles Micallef
Nov 14th 2008, 10:20
This must be surely be a matter of priorities, and it is very clear that Forts St Elmo and St Angelo are top priorities as their structures are crumbling down beyond repair while the structure of St John's Cathedral is well maintained.
I also note the comments made by JPO related to the father whose children are in torn old clothes while he buys a BMW to impress friends, this sounds familiar, just like leaving our Islands crumbling and filthy while some drive around in gas gazzlers like the BMW's and other top marques to impress who ? ...........................
Jonathan Beacom
Nov 14th 2008, 08:54
@Joseph Spiteri
What a BRILLIANT idea ! - I agree that the Law Courts building would be an ideal location for the proposed museum, restoration lab etc. It is a large imposing building just across the road from St. John's .
The old theater site would be a good place to house the Law Courts and would definitely be more useful than the previously proposed shopping center.
Re: JPO
If there is one thing that JPO should be admired for, it is the fact that he is one of the few MP's who speaks his mind when he feels his own party in Government is making a mistake.
Sadly very few other MP's have ever had the guts to speak out against their own party's proposals. If it wasn't for JPO we would now have a massive , polluting cement plant in the beautiful countryside around Siggiewi.
Today the very same proposer of the cement plant project has converted the land in question into a vineyard producing decent wines. He has also incorporated an incredible cultural/conference center adjacent to the vineyard.
We should ALL back JPO on his latest campaign.
John Carmel Navarro
Nov 14th 2008, 08:23
I am so pleased that at long last it seems that our chosen elected people are taking notice of what the public are saying with regards to our Heritage. The St John’s Co-Cathedral Museum extension this should be scrapped. The Co-Cathedral Foundation to me has become a business venture that just seem to want to make money, ordinary Maltese are no longer welcomed it is now just a place for Tourist. So therefore let’s forget the Museum and concentrate on Fort St Elmo where so many of them gave their lives for us. Come on Ministers prove your words.
Muscat.Pat
Nov 14th 2008, 08:21
The Prime Minister did the right thing to put him aside . Is he in for a a rehabilitation programme?
Simon Fenech
Nov 14th 2008, 07:15
Yeah yeah another case of hitting out as long as it's not in my own backyard.
Brave criticism,which I happen to agree with,just so happens that the messenger,as far as I am concerned, lacks credibility. Pity that!
Raymond Sammut
Nov 14th 2008, 03:25
MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is doing justice to priceless national assets. These assets have the potential to generate revenue for Malta and for the Maltese, including the Malta Curia, more than anything else ever will. Equally important is the fact that their due restoration, with a holistic approach, would give to the Maltese everywhere on this planet their rightful inheritance, and a good reason for us to feel good about being Maltese.
I very sincerely like to make a call to Dr Gonzi to scrap the St John's two proposals, and end this national scandal that has now been going on for far too long. Lobby hard for all the EU funds that can be possibly acquired, and apply a de novo approach. Embark upon a national plan that will address the needs of all these national assets that we as a people have inherited after many hundreds of years of history. They, together with the tourism industry, are the best hope we have for a viable Malta into the future.
Lawrence Zammit
Nov 13th 2008, 22:25
Dear Dr. JPO you have ZERO credibility value.
Miriam Cremona
Nov 13th 2008, 21:01
St John's Co-Cathedral Complex is a scheduled site of World Heritage status in a World Heritage City. The excavation of an 11 metre quarry in front of St John's is extravagant and unsustainable. The roofing over of the graveyard is disrespectful to all those who lost their lives fighting for Christianity during the Great Siege. The possibility of damage to the Cathedral and to the underground water catchment and waste disposal systems is there and cannot be eliminated. Simpler alternatives exist such as the acquisition of a palazzo nearby where all offices and restoration laboratories and workshops can be moved out of St John's thus making space for the exhibits within the St John's complex. €14 million can be better utilised on the much needed restoration of major sites such as St Elmo and St Angelo.
All those who oppose both St John's projects please sign the Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar online petition at www.ambjentahjar.org
M Micallef
Nov 13th 2008, 18:07
I'm glad we have touched on the subject of the old opera house.
It is a real disgrace that we have not been able to restore this building in 60 years. Recently I was in Munich and I saw how all the streets which were flattened in WW2 have been rebuilt. Moreover the area where all the building material had been dumped was restored into an Olympic village (and mind you this was way back in 1972). Says a lot about the Germans.
Some times I wonder what Malta would look like if it wasn't for the Knights of St. John (who were not Maltese, despite us taking all the credit for their work) - very barren to say the least. In the last few decades we have built very few if any buildings for the sake of their beauty rather than sheer necessity. Just look at the ' war-damage' buildings which spoil the three cities.
Needless to say these things do not make me very proud of being Maltese.
J.Borg
Nov 13th 2008, 17:41
Wow Hon JPO woke up and we have heard something from him at last........but alas what happened. Now he is speaking about St.John.......which project i also don't want .....but what about Mistra wasn't that going to be ruined as well?
Steven Bonello
Nov 13th 2008, 17:29
While JPO has long lost my respect since the March shenanigans he must be commended for this. This is an extravagant (and hardly needed) project being pushed by individual/s solely for their own vainglory. Yes, places like Fort St.Elmo, for a start, deserve much more urgent attention than the tunneling of St.John's - with its probably unquantifiable consequences.
The St.John's project can easily be put on the back burner - preferably for ever.
Grudgingly.... prosit JPO.
Robert Caruana
Nov 13th 2008, 17:00
Irrespective of any past controversies, JPO is making a lot of sense. His case is very well argued and it is difficult to disagree with what he is saying (perhaps unless one has vested interests of some sort or another).
v.pulis
Nov 13th 2008, 16:28
The more I read about the St. John's project the more I'm convinced that the idea is crazy. How can the architect in charge sleep at night when according to JPO he can't guarantee the safety of the cathedral if work is done underneath it? the thought alone makes me break into a sweat. Priorities, or lack thereof have always been the achilles heel of all the governments.
we tend to embark on hairbrained ideas and neglect our strengths. Culture and history are our only redeeming factors. We don't think twice to build five star hotels then we abandon those factors which are important to attract the tourists. Let's restore what's falling to pieces not endanger what we have not lost yet..
joe morana
Nov 13th 2008, 16:07
The MRRA workers are doing a good clean-up job at Lower Fort St Elmo and they have already removed 70 tonnes of rubbish. However this job is not finished yetas there are still truckolads of rubbish to be cleaned up. In the meantime tourist are daily wondering inside Lower Fort St Elmo taking pictures of the shameful state of this historical heritage.
joseph spiteri
Nov 13th 2008, 15:23
prosit jeffrey, but you did not solve the required space for the cathedral. Three months ago, i did put a solution. Build the old opera site, a COURT PALACE, and transform the present Courts into a Museum, just 20 metres off the Cathedral.
Marco Cremona
Nov 13th 2008, 15:15
Let's not kill the messenger (tempting as it may be).
The argument being brought forward by JPO is reasonable and very sensible. He has managed to put forward very valid arguments on why government should reassess its priorities and re-distribute funding to certain projectsand not others, if the country's priorities have changed, or if we can better use of the limited funds at our disposal.
There is no doubt that the St. John's Foundation project is extravagant and risks damaging the very structure it is duty-bound to protect.
One also wonders how what is essentially an NGO (St. John's Foundation) managed to get Euro 14 million for its pet project, to the detriment of other (more important) projects. What track record does the Foundation have in project management? What criteria did the project proposal satisfy to qualify for these huge funds? What other projects were sacrificed because of this project and never made it for funding?
I call on government to immediately put a stop to this flagrant misuse of EU (read as public) funds, and re-allocate the funds into more worthy causes.
Now is certainly not the time to be capricious with the hard-earned EU funds.
Alfred Zahra de Domenico
Nov 13th 2008, 14:34
Prosit JPO. At long last somebody from the Government side has had the courage to speak up about the St. John's museum extension project and place it within the context of Valletta's needs and our heritage requirements. Again well done JPO.
Ian Vella
Nov 13th 2008, 14:25
I totally agree with the idea of the new museum built at the OLD OPERA site. Shame on all the administrations for leaving this site in such a mess! Surely does anybody care that this shambles is the first thing that tourists view as they walk into Valletta?
C Calleja
Nov 13th 2008, 14:16
i do agree with jpo...but
the days when he was considered as a green politician and a heritage lover are over
mario mifsud
Nov 13th 2008, 13:56
JPO is right
BUT
Is this an attempt to revive yourself JPO?
a. sciberras
Nov 13th 2008, 13:49
I fully agree with JPO! The St John's Cathedral foundation should look for an abandoned Valletta buildings and house the tapestries there. St Angelo and St Elmo are forgotten gems.
R Axisa
Nov 13th 2008, 13:48
Considering the priority issue in this case, I wonder how correct are the other priorities this government is taking into consideration!
v.pulis
Nov 13th 2008, 13:47
@ James hamilton
That is news to me. last time I visited fort St. Angelo in September the place was still a mess even more so in fact. the ramp that leads from the main gate to the first level was covered in concrete spills obviously from trucks driven into the fort. tthe saluting battery on top of the cavallier is still a heap of broken concrete and twisted metal. The bastions are still decorated with weeds and caper bushes.Granted the rooms beneath the cavallier have been cleared of rubbish but that's about it. Forts St. Angelo and St. Elmo are jewels in our fortification system which are crying out to be rescued from the depredations of time and man. In the future our children will either bless us or curse us according to the action we take
Stephen Evans
Nov 13th 2008, 13:43
Having mentiond this earlier in your letters section, the 20th October 2009 will see the two hundredth anniversary of the death of Sir Alexander Ball, Malta 's first Governor. Given the state of both Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Balls graves in the salent of St Elmo, now would be a great time to start any restoration work. I'm sure the authorities involved would receive any assistance from the Royal Navy if requested. As a member of the Nelson Society this would be a great start and a worth wise cause into this islands past. Pullicino Orlando has my vote.
Stephen Forster
Nov 13th 2008, 13:42
Lets hope sense prevails......This is worth far more kudos than the St Johns "débâclé" Well done JPO.
Steve Borg
Nov 13th 2008, 13:39
Anyone who has been following the controversy related to the extenstion of the St John's Co-Cathedral Museum knows perfectly well that the claims being made by JPO have already been clarified or categorically denied by the Foundation for St John's Cathedral. Basically, JPO is repeating these claims in a bid to revive his political career. I am afraid it's too late Jeffrey!! Also, I cannot understand how certain individuals keep linking St Elmo with St John's. It's like saying to Government not to pay the salaries of its employees instead of raising water and electricity rates. My appeal to Jeffrey is to respect the people and the nation.
Stephen BAldacchino
Nov 13th 2008, 13:38
For once I agree with JPO. Fort St.Elmo is much of a need to be restored. nice move
pierre borg
Nov 13th 2008, 13:25
i totally agree with JPO, and i think that the new museum to host the tapestries that are being restored in Belgium should be built on the OLD OPERA SITE.
J Baldacchino
Nov 13th 2008, 13:20
"Should the government go ahead with this project, it would be acting like a father who lets his children run about in old, torn clothes, while he buys a BMW to impress his friends. Given its limited resources, this country clearly needs to set its priorities," Dr Pullicino Orlando said."
May I ask JPO if he is refering to Dr Austin Gatt? Because that's what Dr Austin Gatt just did.
James Hamilton
Nov 13th 2008, 13:20
I agree with Dr Pullicino-Orlando, it's imperative that we look after what we already have. It really is shameful that most of our heritage has been neglected for so long.
I would also question the need of an underground extention for St Johns Co-Cathedral after all these years, why the need now?
On the subject of Fort St Angelo, I was under the impression that renovation work was well in hand, at least is was when I last visited the place about 18months ago, has work stopped?
I would urge the authorities to start renovating St Elmo immediately otherwise the fort will collapse through neglect.
This country is drenched in culture, it's such a shame that the presentation is so pathetic.
ray pace
Nov 13th 2008, 13:17
@c.chircop
Maybe JPO did what surprised you.
This project should be shelved moreso since there are alternatives. Leaving St Elmo in its present state is unbelievable....when immediate action could be taken so as to prevent further damage. JPO -keep up the pressure.
Anthony Briffa
Nov 13th 2008, 13:12
So this explains the complete silence from the side of the government when the controversy on this underground extension was the topic in all newpapers with only the Cathedral Foundation and its architects talking in favour of the project. Is it possible that the government is not sensitive to the inconvenience the public and the business community had to endure during the paving works in the area, not to mention the funds that were invested in this embellishement project?
Franco Farrugia
Nov 13th 2008, 13:06
I am mighty glad that an MP is speaking some sense about St John's, for a change.
Perhaps all those know-alls will learn that those of us, myself included, who stamped our feet and cried FOUL about the proposed plans, will now have the decency and the fairness to say that they were wrong and we were right all along.
St John's Museum plans WILL be shelved.
C Chircop
Nov 13th 2008, 13:05
JPO is right - we need to prioritise on sites which urgently require funding for restoration. However, I am surprised that he has not approached other fellow members of the PN Cabinet to discuss this in private first, rather than going public.
Mark Bonello
Nov 13th 2008, 13:00
This makes a lot of sense.
But who on earth is choosing which priorities are to prevail over others in this Island?
A Grech
Nov 13th 2008, 12:59
I have recently been to Fort St. Angel as part as my university degree. It is a shame that it is not open to the public and the government should try to allocate money for the improvement of such an important heritage place.