Friday, 30th January 2009 - 16:29CET
FAA calls for national theatre on Opera House site
The NGO Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar has welcomed the government’s plans for the rebuilding of City Gate but has called for the building of a national theatre on the site of the former Opera House.
“We need a national theatre that is adequate for the country’s needs,” Miriam Cremona spokesman said at a press conference this afternoon. She said the government should consider rehabilitating disused palazzos to house Parliament.
Coordinator Astrid Vella reiterated the FAA’s objections to the underground extension of St John’s Cathedral Museum and the roofing of the cathedral courtyard.
She urged the Prime Minister to turn down the project, more so as half the members of the St John’s Cathedral Foundation were appointed by the government. Funds for this project could be better used on more urgent needs, such as the rehabilitation of Forts St Elmo and St Angelo.(see video)
She said the FAA has drawn up a petition to the Prime Minister which it is inviting the people to sign. It can be downloaded from faa.org.mt
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Please remember that if Mrs. Vella and FAA had not brought this matter into the public domain in the first place the first you would have known about it would have been when the digging started. You know, the way things usually happen in Malta!
Remember also that not so long ago the Foundation itself complained about a shop owner close by who wanted to excavate his cellar. They said that it risked causing damage to the structure of the Co. Cathedral. Yet now the Foundation is complaining because someone like Mrs. Vella is questioning the sanity of excavating a three storey deep quarry under the Cathedral.
Be thankful that there are people like Mrs. Vella around who are willing to stand up and ask such questions. As I see it in Malta especially where the church is concerned people are too afraid to speak up.
1. Relocate Parliament to Castille.
2. Relocate the PM's office to the Main Guard - suitably renovated and added on as required.
3, Rebuild the Opera House as the National Theatre.
Here are the advantages:
1. Castille will be quite a prestigious location for Parliament and the immediate area could be renamed as Parliament Hill.
2. Relocating the PM's office to the Main Guard, it would also mean that it will be right across from the President's Palace.
3. Rebuilding the Opera House would seem to be the most popular option.
There would be additional costs incurred but such costs would be one time outlays for many future generations to enjoy.
I am also sure that the many experts who write so much against such proposals will point out in no uncertain terms, the disadvantages of the above suggestions!
There is absolutely no doubt that in terms of flow of visitor interest and experience, an extension to a building visited can never be matched by using a remote location.
As for the National Theatre, can Mrs. Vella explain how this is to be maintained, not only physically but operationally. It easy to be carried away nostalgically especially when you are not footing the bill. Having said that I believe that in the wake of the informed or less public outcry against hosting parliament at the old theatre site, should the government go ahead with its plans it will deal the mortal blow to any remaining public esteem of parliament and politics with a big P.
The fact that we are still awaiting this study at a time which is supposedly reserved for common people to evaluate this Project and give their feedback is very telling indeed!! it shows that things are being done the other way round!!
Can our heritage afford this crass mismanagement??