Evarist Saliba, Ta' l-Ibraġ
Main Guard a good home for Parliament
When the senate in Madrid outgrew the elegant palace in which it was housed it was not abandoned. Instead, a modern building was built behind the palace, across the street, and both premises were connected by an ample underground passage. The same could be achieved for our Parliament if the Main Guard and its adjacent side buildings were to be connected through a passage under Strait Street to a modern edifice, both of which would serve as the new home for a reinvigorated Parliament. The utilisation of the Main Guard would free the Royal Opera House site for a cultural purpose.
Security considerations for Parliament would be better met in the Main Guard, especially if an underground parking place for parliamentarians - and members of the staff of the President of Malta - were to be provided under the present unsightly square used as a parking area. Utilisation of the Main Guard would also provide an opportunity to tidy up the unsightly development that has taken place at roof level on one side of this building.
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Mario Farrugia
Jan 16th 2009, 20:07
Parliament should go to ta qali or hal far - and let them work !!!!!!!!!!!!
Carmelo(Nenu)Aquilina
Jan 16th 2009, 19:09
Nemmen li l-Maltin wara mijiet ta' snin mahkuma minn tant gnus, jiggieldu,u jsoffru assedji imdemmij ghad-demokrazija partikularment fl-ahhar gwerra,.kisbet l-Indipendenza bl-akbar ghaqal.
Tajna prova lid-dinja li ahna kapaci nindukraw u insostnu din l-indipendenza f'demokrazija vera,
F' qasir zmien hadna postna fl-Ewropa Wahda, kif tant kien jixraqilna, flimkien ma, u daqs hutna l-Ewropej bl-unuri kollha, u daqs kull nazzjon Ewropew iehor ikbar minnha.
Jien nemmen li l-bini tal-Parlament flok it-teatru tkun l-aktar ghazla inteligenti, patriottika, u taghmel veru sens, u kapaci tkabbar l-identita tan-nazzjon liberu Malti.
Fid-dahla maestusa tal-Belt Barokka Valletta, il-Belt kapitali tal-Maltin, Il-Belt Ewropea, dan ikun l-akbar l-monument simbolu tad-demokrazija, li hadd ma pprattikaha tant tajjeb f'Malta daqs il-parlamentari Maltin.
Dan ikun il-monument li jixraq, u li jfakkar kif jixraq il-hidma b'sagrificju ta' kull Onorevoli membru parlamentari Malti li kellna u li ghad jista jkolna.
Kull Malti ghandu jhossu kburi b'dan il-bini ta' parlament monument nazzjonali, ghax il-Maltin kollha ta' kull zmien u kulur b'xi mod jew iehor ikkontrubew u hadmu minn qalbhom ghal din id-demokrazija, l-akbar ghozza tal-Maltin.
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Melu ghallura kuragg Sur Prim Ministru, l-idea inteligenti tieghek hija l-ahjar proposta, mela l-unika ghazla hi, li flok it-teatru l-imwaqqa ghandu jinbena biss Il-Parlament Malti monument tad-demokrazija f'Malta.
J. Tonna
Jan 16th 2009, 17:18
I have never toured the Main Guard, but from what can be seen it is too small to house the New Parliament.
Charles Camilleri
Jan 16th 2009, 16:10
This idea was floated by Dr. J. Farrugia when he was Speaker. Of course it was not taken seriously at that time but he remained convinced that this was a good idea.
Marvin Mizzi
Jan 16th 2009, 15:04
@ Gerald Cassar
Being a Republic does not mean that we can erase history and remove our monuments and symbols. They are where they are and should remain where they are. What happened in the past made us what we are today we do not live in vacuums. Accepting our past is important if we want to accept our present and future.
Joseph Micallef
Jan 16th 2009, 12:59
With parliament at the old theatre site we will probably end up with City Gate blocked for security most of the time! Not a nice prospect no?
Gerard Cassar
Jan 16th 2009, 12:21
What is known as rhe Main Guard is he most suitale place for Parliament. However the King's armour on top of the main gate ought to be taken off and replaced by a symbol of the "Republic" that already exists. Republic day could be the only National feast too, while celebrating the others as national days just as is done in several countries.
G. Mangion
Jan 16th 2009, 11:16
@ Evarist Saliba, Ta' l-Ibraġ
My opionion is, Let the Main Gaurd as it is, its another GAWRA Beltija !
The Royal Opera House site, Had for the past 60 long years being an eyesore to the entence
of Our Capital City Valletta, Security for parliamentarians will be better near the City Gate much more than in the centre of the Capital. Il - Marelli issa trid Il - mini Taht l' Art Ukoll
Taht Strada stretta ! ciiisssss, Imma Tejd ............ U le !
Marvin Mizzi
Jan 16th 2009, 10:47
One can only apllaud when good and serious ideas a presented, and defently the idea to re-use the Main Guard Building in St George Square is worth a consoderation. First fo all we can re-use the Building again in a central location in Valletta. WOuld be infront of the Palace. The Palace can still hold the Office of the President. While Parliament would be relocated in the Main Guard and the office of the goverment and opposition can be housed in building in Strait Street the same happened with the Law Courts with the building connect to each other in that way another part of Strait Street would also be regenerated. In this way the Old Opera House can be use for the cultual activities theatra, exhibition halls multi function facilities. One reservation I might have is about the UNdergrond Parkin under St.George' s Square. Not that I do not agree with it it is onle a matter if is infrastructurally posible or not and I leave this issue to who is more competent on this subject. Otherwise I applaud the idea!!!!!!!!