PN MPs edge closer on St John's project proposal

The Nationalist Parliamentary group yesterday agreed to draw up a set of amendments to edge towards consensus over the controversial extension of St John's Co-Cathedral museum.

The decision, taken during another heated meeting at PN headquarters, does not mean all Nationalist MPs are in favour of the project, sources said.

However, it might deter government MPs who are against the project from voting for an Opposition motion, which calls on the government to immediately revoke its backing of the proposed project.

Yesterday's discussion follows another meeting of the parliamentary group on Wednesday in which former ministers Jesmond Mugliett and Ninu Zammit joined Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in voicing their disagreement with the project.

The Cathedral foundation is proposing to extend its museum by excavating new exhibition space beneath the Cathedral to house its priceless Flemish tapestries. The motion was presented a week ago by Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

In an attempt to deflect a potentially embarrassing situation for the government, the Nationalist parliamentary group yesterday agreed to amend the motion to 'give a signal' that, where necessary, Parliament should be able to scrutinise major or sensitive projects.

This was one of the issues raised by Dr Pullicino Orlando, who has been at the forefront against the plans, saying he had no trust in the planning process.

However, the PN also decided to emphasise the importance of not interfering with planning processes itself and that such a project should be monitored by the planning authority, the sources said.

On a tactical level, "the idea is to shift the ball game and attack Muscat on procedural weaknesses and his attempt at interfering in the process of EU-funded projects," a PN source said.

Still, it appears likely that some Nationalist MPs will speak against the project in Parliament, the sources said.

Mr Mugliett had complained that when he was responsible for urban development there were applications for rehabilitation projects, including in Valletta, which did not go through because the indication was that there were little funds available in the budget.

But St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation reacted strongly to this comment, pointing out that it had applied for EU funding following a public call which was open to any organisation.

Moreover, the foundation president Phillip Calleja pointed out that the foundation had only been allocated 11.5 per cent of the programme they had tapped into, making the point that more money is still available for other projects. The project was awarded almost €14 million, which will be supplemented with another €2 million of the foundation's own money, out of €120 million reserved for such tourism-related developments.

In light of this, Mgr Calleja said that the foundation cannot understand why it should be penalised because it had vision and was planning ahead.

In the same statement, the foundation also reacted to a comment which had been made by Dr Pullicino Orlando. He had raised doubts about the credibility of the planning process which will decide on the project, saying he "cannot leave it up to Mepa when the project description statement makes no reference to geological studies to determine the stability of the rock in the area; or when the plans are not readily available to the public".

However, the foundation said the comment was incorrect as the project description statement (an outline of the type of study that should be made to assess the project) does make reference to these geological studies.

Mgr Calleja also shot down Dr Pullicino Orlando's claim that the document does not include a study of alternative sites: "This statement is also incorrect as the PDS includes references to a study on alternative buildings."

He even encouraged people to suggest to Mepa the issues which they feel should be studied while the consultation process is still ongoing.

The foundation also reacted to a line in the article which reported the MPs' comments in The Times last Friday, which said the project raised fears that the extension could jeopardise the very structure of the cathedral.

Mgr Calleja reiterated that the foundation would not go ahead with the project should the studies being carried out suggest any risk to the cathedral.

"It is also important for all who have St John's interests at heart to realise that not doing anything will put the cathedral at risk because the present situation is not sustainable and by time damage to the cathedral will be caused."