Labour's motion illogical - foundation president
The graveyard in Merchants Street, Valletta, adjacent to St John's Co-Cathedral.
Labour's motion against the proposed extension of St John's Co-Cathedral Museum is "illogical" because it aims to veto the conservation of Malta's leading monument, St John's Foundation president Monsignor Philip Calleja charged yesterday.
The motion effectively means that the Labour Party wants the right of veto over the decisions of the EU Funds' Projects Selection Committee, the foundation and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, he said in reaction to the motion announced by PL leader Joseph Muscat on Saturday.
Labour's motion calls on the government to revoke its backing for the proposed project, propose the identification of other buildings in Valletta to serve as an extension of the museum and launch broad consultation on the priorities for the use of EU funds.
Speaking during a Nationalist Party activity at the Balzan PN club yesterday, PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier pointed out that the motion showed that Dr Muscat was unaware that the government had already published its priorities for EU funding through its National Strategic Reference Framework in December 2006.
Apart from the fact that the process to obtain funds was set by EU regulations, consultation on the priorities lasted from autumn 2005 until June 2007, he said to the sound of applause by supporters and activists.
But Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando - who has made a stinging attack on the "extravagant" museum extension proposal - did not join in with the clapping.
After Labour announced its plans to present a motion in Parliament, Dr Pullicino Orlando was asked how he would vote but refused to answer the question, saying he would follow the debate and decide at a later stage.
In a statement released yesterday, Mgr Calleja said the opposition ignored the fact that the foundation had duly responded to an official call for applications for EU funding.
While stressing that nothing would be done by the foundation that would in any way damage the fabric of the Co-Cathedral, he said anyone who believes that the proposed project would do so has the opportunity to ensure that his or her point is covered by the Environment Impact Assessment.
Mgr Calleja also explained that the museum would not make sense in a building nearby the cathedral.
"Unfortunately this claim clearly illustrates that the opposition has not understood that it is essential that the extension be connected to the Co-Cathedral."
This would ensure that the treasures commissioned specifically for the Co-Cathedral would be displayed within its precincts and that visitors would be able to follow a route within and around St John's that would limit the period of time they spend within the church itself, therefore reducing damage.
Mgr Calleja also said that, contrary to what is stated in the opposition's motion, the major cultural, environmental and heritage NGOs have not taken a stand against the project and are waiting for the EIA to be carried out before pronouncing themselves.
The PL motion also says that the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division of the Office of the Prime Minister has approved the project, which would cost some €16 million, of which some €14 million would come from EU funds.
In the absence of a clear indication of the government priorities for the use of EU funds, the presence of Richard Cachia Caruana - the government-nominated representative on the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, which is behind the proposed project - gives rise to a conflict of interest, the PL argues.
In a statement released by the PN on Saturday that echoed the words of Dr Borg Olivier, the party did not react to this point.
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lgalea
Jan 27th 2009, 08:49
If this goes through, Gonzipn will go down in history as having destroyed most of our national heritage.
Peter Gatt
Jan 26th 2009, 21:40
Astrid Vella has raised a very important issue, which she called rock bedding planes, better described in technical terms as jointing in the Globigerina Limestone. These tension cracks would be expected to be common at the top of Sciberras Hill where St John's is located. If during excavation ,a sizeable joint oriented in a particular direction is encountered, an entire wedge of rock may fail, causing catastrophic damage to the Cathedral. There have been several instances when this happened in Malta, e.g. during excavation of Sliema car park. Even if we are spared such mass failure, creating a void will alter stresses in the rock and cause slow deformation which will increase damage to the Cathedral structure. If Astrid Vella's comment that the PDS lacks geological studies of the site is correct, excavation in total ignorance of the nature of the rock is too high a risk for such an artistic masterpiece.
Dr Frank Psaila
Jan 26th 2009, 18:17
Part 2
The press release issued by the PN on Saturday starts by tackling this very issue: "The first point raised by the Leader of the Opposition is fallacious. It appears that the PL Leader is the only person who doesn't know that the Government published the country's priorities for the use of EU Funds through the National Strategic Reference Framework in December 2006 (two years ago) and through two Operational Programmes published in June 2007 (a year and a half ago). It appears also that Dr Muscat has not noticed that the EU will not approve the allocation of funds unless these priorities have already been established. The National Strategic Reference Framework and the Operational Programmes are public and can be found on the Government's website."
The PL's motion is therefore based on a false premise as is the allegation that Mr. Cachia Caruana has a conflict of interest in this matter.
Frank Psaila
Director of Information
PN
Dr Frank Psaila
Jan 26th 2009, 18:15
Part 1
I refer to the above article.
This article includes the following: "In the absence of a clear indication of the government priorities for the use of EU funds, the presence of Richard Cachia Caruana – the government-nominated representative on the St. John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, which is behind the proposed project – gives rise to conflict of interest, the PL argues. In a statement released by the PN on Saturday 24th January, the Party did not react to this point". This statement is completely untrue.
The House of Representative's motion presented by the Dr Muscat states that Mr. Cachia Caruana's alleged conflict of interest arises 'in the light of the absence of clear indications of the Government's priorities for the use of EU funds".
Astrid Vella
Jan 26th 2009, 12:31
The Foundation stresses the number of tourists visiting St.John's Co-Cathedral,but this whole project is based on the misconception that once the underground museum is built, tourists will opt to see the tapestries instead of entering the Cathedral. Who in his right mind can imagine that faced with a choice, tourists will opt for the tapestries and miss seeing the glorious Cathedral and the Caravaggios!
If Mon. Calleja is so adamant that the Foundation is doing everything in the interests of the Cathedral, what is stopping them from immediately implementing "the planning of a visitors’ route within and around St John’s that would allow all its wonders to be seen in comfort while limiting the period of time spent within the church itself"??
Who are the "Major heritage and cultural NGOs who have not taken a stand against the project"? Only Din l-Art Helwa, because the Museum Curator sits on their board.The list of entities that have declared themselves against this project include:FAA, Friends of the Earth, MEPA Heritage Advisory Board,Valletta Rehabilitation Committtee,Valletta Local Council,GRTU and, most important of all, the Church Commission for Cultural Heritage which oversees all heritage matters within churches.
Sign the St.John's petition: www.ambjentahjar.org
Astrid Vella
Jan 26th 2009, 12:24
PART 2
Why is Mons Calleja repeating that the public can pick up the Project Description Statement (project outline) from Local Council when he has been personally informed that it does not have copies to give out?
This so-called public consultation is flawed from the outset as the print PDS
a. Is not easily available
b. Has missing plans
c. Is very sketchy,giving no indications of emergency exits, sanitary facilities or plant and equipment.
It is said that these details "will be provided later" but the public needs to know where air-conditioners,large underground generators or air ducts are to be positioned in historic St. John's Square.
More importantly, the Project Description Statement lacks the geological studies of rock bedding-planes which would indicate the stability of rock near the Cathedral.If these are unfavourable,they would immediately indicate that the project has to be reduced drastically or is not feasible.That is why the studies should have been done at this stage, to save the expense of up to 120,000 Euros of Foundation (ie. taxpayer) money and more in MEPA costs.
If this project is really justifiable,let's have an Open Vote on it in Parliament.