Jimmy Magro proposes privatisation of Fort St Elmo restoration

Raymond Sammut

Nov 23rd 2008, 17:56

After listening to Mr Magro, I form the opinion that a new "Foundation" should oversee the restoration not only of St Elmo, but also of St Angelo in tandem.

The reason I say this is not because I would want to aim too high, but because I consider the two forts to be historically intertwined. That is, one cannot do something to one of these forts without considering first the effect this would have on the other. I mean, you cannot tell a visitor about the history of St Elmo without telling also about St Angelo.

Just a thought. Recall that St Elmo in particular is closely connected with the great corsair, Turgut Reis, who was very much a Turkish man. I see no reason as to why Turkish historians, and perhaps Turkish entities, would not be interested in such a project. Potential Turkish participation and input could be something that a new foundation may also want to explore.

From an entrepreneurial point of view, a restored St Elmo would definitely have an appeal to those, for example, who specialise in offering wedding reception services, both to local and international demand, without compromising the historical aspect.

v.pulis

Nov 23rd 2008, 10:36

I fully concur with Andrew Camilleri in that the fort should be restored to its former design and utilized as a museum focusing on the role the fort played during the conflict. The place could house replicas of the weapons used in the great siege, an audio visual presentation on the lines of the Malta Experience could be produced, reenactments and tours organized and exhibitions partaining to the siege could be set up.

Mike Magri

Nov 23rd 2008, 09:44

Well Done Jimmy... It`s a great idea and a well taken initiative... I sincerely hope that you will find ALL the necessary support and assistance, financially, political and otherwise, to be able to renovate Fort St. Elmo into a best possible educational, touristic and historical place possible, in the interest of the whole Maltese Nation, Reds, Blues and Greens alike....

GOOD LUCK my friend, and may your `Dream` come true.....

now @ Oscar Cassar ( and others who might support him).... You must be so politically blinded to even try to politisize such a noble case. A disgrace to the Maltese Nation, that thus not even deserve that you to be called a Maltese, At All.....!!!!

SHAME ON YOU ALL........
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Andrew Camilleri

Nov 21st 2008, 20:23

Fort St. Elmo should be turned into a museum - parts of it could be restored to recall the Great Siege, with regular re-enactments, while the other parts of the complex could be used to display items of historic and cultural importance pertaining to the conflict or other conflicts in Malta's past, for example.

Jimmy Magro

Nov 21st 2008, 19:28

Due to the 200 word limit, in my previous posting I wanted to thank the leadership of The Times for the service thay have, and will continue to provide, on the issue of Fort St. Elmo. They have done a marvellous job and I am quite certain that they will continue to support our campaign.
Please do keep sending more ideas, comments, suggestions. This is the way democracy should work. I have continued to receive more emails of support and I want to thank all those that have contributed to this debate and the support they have offered to the formation of the Foundation.

carmel callus

Nov 21st 2008, 17:47

I think that fort st elmo should be turned into a crafts village on the lines of poble-espanyol in barcelona, replacing Ta' Qali Crafts Village.

Clemens Hasengschwandtner

Nov 21st 2008, 16:54

Why not turn in into a cultural center for contemporary art. You wouldn't have to renovate the whole building to top notch standards - just make it safe and preserve what is there and provide a platform for young art and culture.

Maybe one remembers the project Warehouse Nr. 8 - a group of young people rented an old run down warehouse for Lm540 a month and tried to make it a cultural center. They really spend a lot of energy and a lot of their own resources but did not succeed.

Face it - rent, electricity, individual permits for every event etc. - it's nearly impossible to make it work. Now the same place is rented by another cultural guy who tries to make it a space for contemporary art - who will face exactly the same problems.

Fix up the most important things and then be a bit flexible who you give it too and you will see wonders happen in front of your eyes.

Daniel Russell

Nov 21st 2008, 15:27

@v.pulis
I was just making a suggestion of what can be done. Elsehwere in Malta, In the USA (New York), London, Germany etc, there have been several schemes where the historic site has been kept and the fabric upgraded and different uses given to the site to make it financially viable which is the primary concern of any developer, as a profit motivated organisation.
I would most like to see the Fort be used for something which the Maltese people would like it to be used for, possibly something cultural (a new site for Malta National Museum) or something such as an opera house (done successfully in the USA) or it could be restored to how it would have been in the Knights/British time as a museum. I was thinking of high value uses which state funds could pump prime and create local jobs and benefit the Malta economy. V.Pulis, I love heritage and have worked in Malta researching proposals for how to best preserve your heritage and regenerate Malta, some ideas from which have been implemented, but I hope Mr Magro fully involves local people and arrives at something that works and is sustainable and this gem is preserved.

John Lawrence Gatt

Nov 21st 2008, 14:59

Well done and Prosit Mr Jimmy Magro.

If this proposal is successful maybe someone will do the same for the other
historical fort (St.Angelo Birgu)

Robert Aquilina

Nov 21st 2008, 14:50

The Fort should be turned into a Hotel and Called "Midnight Express" this should compliment the MCC as a historic Conference Centre.

lgalea

Nov 21st 2008, 14:50

Oscar Cassar
Shame on you for trying to get politics into what is an initiative to save a national monument.
As if the political leanings and political past, and any past of a person has got anything to do with an initiative in favour of saving the Maltese heritage.
Again shame on you.

v.pulis

Nov 21st 2008, 13:53

Whatever happens to the fort I just hope that Daniel Russell's proposal for the fort to be turned into a shopping and leisure development, with offices and apartments/ hotel is not taken up. If there's one thing we do NOT need in Malta its another shopping centre especially in a historic fort like St. Elmo. And what does leisure development mean? a gym perhaps? or a spa like the one envisaged for fort St.Angelo? That would be tantamount to blasphemy in my opinion.As regards offices and apartments in the fort, We want to evict squatters not build them apartments!
The forts can stand on their own history and do not need modern 'embelishments' to make them function. So let's develop the place by all means but not to the detriment of estroying their cultural and historical framework.

joe Morana

Nov 21st 2008, 13:50

Regrettably just days following the thorough clean-up job of Lower Fort St Elmo by MRRA employees, some irresponsible individual/s has/have again dumped some rubbish there. I am afraid that if no immediate action is taken to control "public access" to the Fort, this historical site will again degenrate into the shameful rubbish dump (90 tonnes of rubbish) which has just been cleared.

Steve Evans

Nov 21st 2008, 13:36

Maybe its time for Malta to take a leaf out of that famous World War 1 poster showing Lord Kitchner pointing and saying Britons! Your country Needs You ! How about some character here pointing and saying,"Malta! Your Forts Need You!" Any takers?

Jimmy Magro

Nov 21st 2008, 13:17

@Oscar Cassar
I do not go deep as your thoughts. I have no interest in running for an MEP so you can rest assured that my intention is a noble one. All I want is to bring change in Malta. To have people understand that we cannot depend on the Government and that civil participation is more important than anything else for any democracy to be real and progressive democracy.

This is not a political matter and you have been the first person to comment in a partisan manner. You should be ashamed that you have turned a national issue into a partisan one. Whatever Labour did in the past is not my business. I am a free private citizen and all I care about is the national interest.

@ all others
I wish to thank all those that can read the truth and are able to understand that we can build a civil movement to bring change in our nation. From the emails that I have received, it seems to me that I can bring together a multi-disciplinary group of experts that can lead the Foundation forward. What we need is a new team of leaders.

vincent a galea

Nov 21st 2008, 13:09

It takes real guts to come out with a proposition like this! The Labour Party's loss (as General Secretary) could become Malta's heritage gain!
Knowing Jimmy I am sure he will pull this through. And please no spokes in the wheels and let's not let political colours and hidden agendas rear their ugly heads......!!! These theatricals have been costing Malta dear for far too long!
Well done, Jimmy, and good luck!

André Xuereb

Nov 21st 2008, 12:49

I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and sincerely hope that Mr Magro manages to pull this one off. A big "prosit" for the initiative.

Oscar Cassar

Nov 21st 2008, 12:26

It is interesting to note that a former MLP general secretary is proposing this foundation that would seek funding from the EU among others. For me this smells like as if part on Mr Margo’s campaign for the MEP elections particularly from a person that spent years in the front of a party that gave away to the private sector, important land marks like Fort Delimera.

The Government is working on various restoration projects like various sites (mostly) chapels in various village) and others like Verdala Palace, Valletta Waterfront and Manuel Island with the involvement of the private sector. The problem is most probably that there is too much need of restoration or that the bureaucracy is too much.

Daniel Russell

Nov 21st 2008, 11:47

I must quote the eminent architectural historian Dan Cruickshank here "we cannot allow these architectural treasures to be lost forever and underestimate their contribution to society" (BBC Restoration).
Fort St Elmo is an architectural gem and of pivotal importance to the history of Valletta and could make a valuable contribution to the economy of Valletta and Malta as a whole. It has been chronically under used for years and has never been maintained to its full potential.
What is needed here is a public private partnership with some state funds which is used to "pump prime" the attraction of private finance from either within or without the EU. I was saddened to see the state it had got into when I was last in Malta in August and all fenced off.

Why dont the developers look at examples in the UK, USA and the rest of the EU which have been redeveloped as mixed use developments. Could the development be turned to a shopping and leisure development, with offices and apartments/ hotel whilst retaining its architectural beauty. It would be a good place for a Malta national museum or opera house too. I would be sorry to see it go!

Christopher Ebejer

Nov 21st 2008, 11:12

It is very heartening to see that there are people who have Maltese heritage at heart. This initiative is a n example to follow.
You wonder some times who are those who really care for the nation’s heritage. While we have a lot of Puliti who collect art and pose their figure as custodians of our national heritage, then the spark comes always form individuals who have a strong sense of altruism.
Take for instance the huge work which is being done by the local band clubs towards our popular culture!

Keep it up Jimmy, you made my day!

Paul Micallef

Nov 21st 2008, 10:02

WORLD MONUMENTS WATCH - A survey of the site in 2001 concluded that Fort St. Elmo was a "Risk Four" on a scale of one to five (five being the most at risk), due to deterioration and damage from lack of maintenance and security, natural aging, and exposure to the elements, as well as inappropriate renovations and use. Though some damage is severe, in much of the fort restoration and conservation are possible, but would require more funding than is currently available.

This comment was made 7 years ago. Please Mr Government. ACTION NOW

C Chircop

Nov 21st 2008, 09:52

Let's start with St. Elmo, and extend it to other historical sites, not least the Opera Theatre in Valletta - an wound which has been open for the maltese nation for 65 years or so.

We raise money for political parties, yet there has never been an initiative to raise money for the rebuilding this theatre.

v.pulis

Nov 21st 2008, 09:43

Mr. Magro should be commended on his inititive regarding the restoration of St. Elmo although we have yet to hear his vision for the fort. We must be very cautious when dealing with places of historical importance and must learn from past mistakes. One example that comes immediately to mind is when there was an attemplt to turn fort St. Angelo into a tourist complex complete with swimming pool and disco! the damage sustained by the fort is still visible today. my suggestion for St. Elmo is to treat the fort as a historical building and its use should reflect this. All actvity should be centred around its history and any thought of turning this place into some sort of modern structure should be abandoned.

azzopardi charlie

Nov 21st 2008, 09:43

Welldone Jimmy, Your plan is very valid,

Joseph E Briffa

Nov 21st 2008, 09:22

Well done Jimmy Magro for the initiative you have taken and best of luck.