'No choice' but to abandon project - Cachia Caruana

The Prime Minister and the Archbishop had "no choice" but to stop the underground museum project proposed by the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, according to Richard Cachia Caruana.

However, Mr Cachia Caruana, a government representative on the foundation's board and Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU, lamented that it is "sad" when decisions are not allowed to be taken by professionals.

Contacted yesterday, none of the six foundation board members felt he should resign after the project they have pursued for about two years was permanently shelved by the Prime Minister and the Archbishop.

"In the circumstances I feel the decision to abandon the project had to be taken. The Prime Minister and the Archbishop had no choice because there was no way the environment impact assessment could have continued with the serenity required," Mr Cachia Caruana told The Times.

He said there was no reason why he should resign from the foundation but insisted it was a "shame for the country not to allow a planning process to continue".

"It is sad when decisions are not allowed to be taken by professionals. But in no way does this reflect negatively on the decision taken by the Prime Minister and the Archbishop since they had no choice," Mr Cachia Caruana said when asked whether he felt let down by the decision.

The government's two other representatives on the foundation, Philip Farrugia Randon and Paul Attard, dismissed any notion of resigning, and insisted the decision to abandon the project did not equate to a lack of trust in them.

Mr Attard replied with the question: "Did we do anything wrong?"

He said the foundation was responsible for a whole string of projects to improve the experience at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, without causing any problems.

"Our intention was to create more exhibition space and we always declared that we were ready to stop the project if expert and professional opinion would have counselled us to do so," Mr Attard said.

"All of us agreed with the decision taken by the Archbishop and the Prime Minister because it was never our intention to divide the people on this project," Mr Attard said.

His words were echoed by Dr Farrugia Randon, who insisted the decision to abandon the museum plans was not about lack of trust: "We weren't ordered to withdraw the project but we agreed with the decision because the situation had reached a level where truth was lost in a haze of opinions.

"I would have resigned if somebody made me do something I disagreed with, which is not the case," Dr Farrugia Randon said.

The other three board members representing the Archbishop were also unanimous in their decision not to resign.

Mgr Lawrence Mifsud insisted there were no grounds "at all" for him to step down as the project's abandonment had no bearing on the trust the members enjoyed.

Similar strong sentiments were expressed by foundation president Mgr Philip Calleja, who said he did not "even dream" of resigning.

"As the situation developed I think the Prime Minister and the Archbishop searched for calm," he said, justifying the project's premature termination.

The Archbishop's third representative, Mgr Cachia said: "I don't feel I should resign and I don't think the decision to stop the project was a sign of lack of faith in the foundation. But we are always submissive to authority."

ksansone@timesofmalta.com