Prelate takes offence at MP's comments
The president of the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, Mgr Philip Calleja yesterday strongly denied allegations made by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in Parliament that he was being used as a mouthpiece for someone else.
Referring to Dr Pullicino Orlando's speech in Parliament last Tuesday, Mgr Calleja said he was deeply saddened that the MP chose to address the House to make false allegations about him.
Dr Pullicino Orlando described a statement issued by the foundation in defence of the planned extension of the co-cathedral museum as "verbal manoeuvres" against him and accused Mgr Calleja of allowing himself to be used as a "mouthpiece".
Mgr Calleja said: "In the very many years I have been active in various roles in public life I have never been faced with such unjust and untruthful allegations. This is an uncalled for attack on my personal integrity and on a foundation which works very hard to safeguard one of Malta's best treasures".
Tuesday's was Dr Pullicino Orlando's second attack on the foundation's proposed extension of the museum. Earlier this month, he rubbished the project saying the government should divert the funds away from the "extravagant" project onto the urgent restoration of forts St Elmo and St Angelo.
The co-cathedral had reacted strongly the following day saying that, rather than "deciding for Mepa", the MP should let the decision-making process run as it should.
Such a statement may have been a veiled reference to the electoral controversy Dr Pullicino Orlando got embroiled in after Labour exposed an application for an open-air disco which was to be built on ecologically sensitive land the MP owns in Mistra. Mepa members involved in the case said they had approved the controversial project after they were pressured by the MP. Dr Pullicino Orlando insisted he had done nothing that went beyond the manner he acted when dealing with a request by a constituent.
Mgr Calleja yesterday echoed a statement he made on November 14, saying, the foundation is determined to allow Mepa to carry out its work without any interference or pressure. "Dr Pullicino Orlando should do the same and avoid using his position as a member of Parliament to put pressure on Mepa," he said.
He said the foundation was equally disappointed by the argument made by the MP that St John's Co-Cathedral did not deserve the investment the foundation was committed to make in order to ensure it and its historical surroundings were safeguarded and preserved.
"From the way he spoke in Parliament it is reasonable to conclude that, for Dr Pullicino Orland, the safeguarding, preservation and upkeep of St John's Co-Cathedral is not a priority. That is a very sad statement to be made by anyone but coming from an MP these statements are shocking," he said.
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Raymond Sammut
Nov 29th 2008, 17:03
"From the way he spoke in Parliament it is reasonable to conclude that, for Dr Pullicino Orland, the safeguarding, preservation and upkeep of St John's Co-Cathedral is not a priority. That is a very sad statement to be made by anyone but coming from an MP these statements are shocking," he said.
@ Mgr Philip Calleja
What you are saying here shows clearly that Dr Pullicino Orlando is not putting pressure on MEPA as you had suggested. This MP is only performing his duty in the Maltese Parliament, as is required by his constituents.
Furthermore, your use of the word "priority" misrepresents Dr Pullicino Orlando's stance on national heritage. Your view of priority is clearly centred on one single item. That of Dr Pullicino Orlando spans a wide range of items, such as Saint Elmo and Saint Angelo, that together constitute the whole body of Maltese national heritage, whereby each receives its due priority. The latter view is clearly much more sensible, rather than "shocking" as you incorrectly claim.
James A. Tyrrell
Nov 28th 2008, 22:48
Well said Astrid. How can Mgr Philip Calleja say that the foundation would never do anything to risk causing damage to the Co-Cathedral when they are proposing digging a quarry beside and underneath it! The whole idea is crazy. St. John's belongs to the people of Malta, not the foundation or its developer friends.
Astrid Vella
Nov 28th 2008, 19:42
While one has every respect for members of the Cathedral Foundation for their respective role, it has to be said that none has experience in structural work on ancient buildings, while the choice of architect is is also strange,given that he has no track-record in restoration projects.
In fact when we brought up the matter of the Foundation tender which included power water washing which could have a very damaging effect on old stone,causing micro-cracks which would allow water to seep into the Preti wall-paintings,none of the Foundation were even aware of this! Is that how “the foundation will never expose the Co-Cathedral or any other sites or buildings to any risk”
If the Foundation were genuine about this it would heed MEPA’s words that this project is a non-starter as no mitigation measures can completely eliminate the risk to St. John’s.it should drop the project in favour of one of the numerous valid alternatives that have by now been made
A recent Foundation article called the project “What’s best for St.John’s”-that’s exactly it. They are not considering what’s best for Valletta,its people, its heritage, and its long-term sustainability, just tunnel-vision in more ways than one.
Eric Soames
Nov 28th 2008, 15:10
I can't believe this stubborn hanging onto this terribly ill-advised 'plan' in the face of such public and widespread outcry.
lgalea
Nov 28th 2008, 09:59
Mgr Philip Calleja, keep your hands off our heritage.
This belongs to all the Maltese population, not to you or your foundation