Opera House bomb site 'scandal'

After more than 65 years as a horrific reminder of conflict, Maltese loss of life and devastation of war, the Opera House bomb site at the entrance to the country's glorious capital city may soon see the builders moving in.

Generations of Maltese, tourists and business people have strolled past this, the most visible World War II bomb site in Europe. The reconstruction of the site is unquestionably overdue, the design a matter for Maltese designers and architects. This is maybe an issue in itself.

My concern along with a great many other "foreigners" and thousands of Maltese citizens is the actual use of the site. I don't particularly have any political axe to grind in Malta. Politicians, with the best will in the world, are here today, gone tomorrow. What these people leave behind if they are lucky is a certain legacy, a memory.

Buildings and their purpose on the other hand are a totally different story.

Without doubt it could well be argued that Parliament in Malta deserves a dedicated venue. After all these years I personally think it's about time and again perhaps overdue.

However, placing Parliament at the very entrance to Valletta on a site which many over the years thought would be reinstated as a place of theatre, culture and the arts is, in my humble opinion, quite crazy. This is a step too far.

I appeal to Lawrence Gonzi through this letter to reconsider his decision which quite frankly has upset and bemused a great many people in Malta and across Europe.

I'm sorry but Valletta is not "saturated" with theatre. Please, please, please, Dr Gonzi, when you rebuild the Opera House site do not place Parliament there. Please use the site as it was intended, for Maltese theatre, entertainment, culture and the arts.

Do you hear us Prime Minister?

(I have a website dedicated to this issue at www.maltaoperahouse.com)