Labour's motion illogical - foundation president

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.