Saturday, 14th February 2009 - 16:19CET
FAA calls for resignation of St John's Foundation members
The environment NGO Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar has welcomed confirmation, reported in The Times, that EU funds earmarked for the underground extension of St John's Co-Cathedral Museum will be directed to tourism-related projects.
In a statement, the FAA called for the resignation of the members of St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation.
It said the project had been 'concealed' from the public for two years in what could be considered a serious breach of ethics in a project concerning a scheduled public monument.
Furthermore the foundation allowed this application to be processed and it obtained EU funding for the project in full knowledge that the government was carrying out re-paving of Merchants' Street , costing hundreds of thousands of euro of public funds, which works would have been destroyed by the St John’s project.
The NGO also hit out at the foundation members for pressing on with the project in spite of being aware of many expert reports highlighting the grave risks of the project, including the MEPA Directorate declaration that "The project is a non-starter due to the fact that no mitigation measures can guarantee that the Cathedral's foundations will not be affected".
FAA said it expected the government to request the resignation of its representatives on the foundation as this was a matter of mismanagement of Malta’s prime heritage asset and also of public funds.
"The public has the right to expect good governance from its public representatives, elected or not."
RSS
Comments
How about using the Theatre site?
Dr Gonzi had the opportunity to debate the issue in Parliament. In the face of a "jumbled lot", he chickened out.
1) Yes
2) No, not if it is done right. Would you rather they were left to rot?
3) Ask the Foundation.
4) Since the Foundation have not bothered to consider them who knows. Somehow however I doubt if they would cost anywhere like 14 million Euro!
5) Any support for Ms. Vella in my opinion has been well constructed and mature in nature. Daphne Caruana Galizia on the other hand who is an obvious and well-known Gonzipn supporter finds it necessary to resort to the gutter response of personal attack. With friends like her who needs enemies?
6) On a rotational basis yes.
7) Everyone has a right to an opinion, even Ms. Vella and myself.
8) What idea?
9) Never heard of anyone retaining such information, have you?
10) Credentials as you call them are not required to form an opinion! When qualified opinions are called for then you consult with qualified people as FAA did throughout this process.
Since you are claiming that FAA are politically motivated, I have just one question for you.
Do you consider yourself as independent and not politically motivated?
If there was any reason to doubt FAA’s fundamentalist and opportunistic action, you couldn’t have been more comprehensive. Some questions beckon although they are irrelevant compared to the dangerous precedent established related to a nation's governance.
1. Have you ever seen these Palazzos
2. If you have don’t you think turning them into workshops and offices as “a destructions of century old gems”
3. How many Palazzos would be needed.
4. Who owns these Palazzos and how much do they cost. Probably they cost additional millions now. Or should they be requisitioned?
5. Have you seen how people supporting Vella on this blog have sustained their arguments! A jumbled lot to say the least
6. Should the tapestries be exhibited? If yes where
7. Do other common mortals have the right to a different opinion on this subject.
8. Who should decide on the technical feasibility of this idea, you, me or the institutions.
9. A petition is not a survey. To make it credible you need to tell me how many where asked and how many refused.
10. What credentials do yourself, or indeed Vella, have in terms of geology, civil works, communication theories and museum planning.
The tragedy would have been if your beloved Gonezipn and the unelected RCC had succeeded in ruining OUR national heritage.
And yes. We shall oppose whatever your Gonezipn proposes that is not according to what the people want to squander OUR money on. It's not YOUR money that Gonezipn is squandering, but OURS.
Good job Astrid.
Continue with your work and don't take any notice of those who are trying to do their best to degrade you, especially someone who hates everything Labour and spreads her venom against Labour on a continuous basis.
The people are behind you to protect OUR heritage.
“When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.”
One can assume that David Hume would have said the same thing about women.
I have yet to see such a level of glorified arrogance and ignorance.
God spare us.
Personally I would have much better preferred to see expert opinion and due process take place, and then take a decision at that stage. This has not happened. I, for you, cannot tell you whether I would have supported the project or otherwise at that stage. I had my pros and cons at the start but it really was far too early to decide.
SO is this how we are going to approach issues of this kind? Raise as much opposition at the outset, nip things in the bud?
Itis a dangerouse precedent and one which does not bode well for the next, and even bigger project: the CItygate one. Is resistance there also going to mean that an informed, evidence-based debate is going to be stifled by vocal resistence at the outset?
I cannot but help that in the end political expediency won the day, on both sides, and that what we are seeing here is restriction of governance imposed on the Prime Minister in trying to keep it all together.
FAA has always contributed constructively whenever it was given the opportunity. A recent example is the comprehensive document compiled by FAA and other NGOs full of suggestions and recommendations presented to the Prime Minister on MEPA reform.
FAA never objected to the development of a museum for the display of tapestries. FAA objected to the extravagant plans as submitted by the Foundation - which in the words of experts would have resulted in irreparable damage to the Cathedral.
Indeed, why did the Foundation drop the project and not find an acceptable solution together with NGOs and stakeholders? Is this due to sheer arrogance on the Foundation's part? Is it a case of 'it's either my way or nothing'?
Why did it have to be an extravagant solution (costing millions of euros of the taxpayers' money) or nothing at all? Why isn't the Foundation interested in finding a low-cost solution? The mind boggles.
Daphne says that she 'speaks for herself'. Who does she think she is kidding?
Hope that in the future issues like these do not occur again!
Wait until Renzo Piano reveals his plans. Good as they may be, the next farce will be those taking one side while others oppose at all costs.
Some will not agree with the design of the Opera House(?)/Parliament.
Others will not agree with the shape of the City Gate.
Many will say that the money should be spent elsewhere, preferably distributed equally to each man, woman and child.
Some will bring up the age old question, why Piano not England or some other Maltese architect.
All this will happen as our beloved bus drivers go on strike.
We shall bemoan that tourists have become somewhat scarce, like we should be guaranteed record visits year in, year out.
Cries for resignations - ministers, Prime Minister, and every Tom Dick and Harry who carries some sort of title and a responsible position.
MEPA will change its name because no one can stand the old one any more.
All this will reach its peak as a new pet peeve will rear its head - Sikka l-Bajda project.
Can't wait for Joseph's hindsight one more time!
Its surpising how certain accolades turn up to defend the undefendable. There had been silence so far even if lobbying to get the expert's blessings for this pastiche with continued insistence by others till the very last to sound the foundation's fragile arguments
If the prime minister has revoked a decision that his representatives had taken then they cannot represent a legitimately elected government. Thats the way things happen in a democracy or are we back by a couple of decades? Or is this Government keen on leaving expensive toys in the hands of amateurs? Quite a few out here are not any more credible
Well done astrid! You deserve the people's recognition. Never mind what the politically minded say. Few really represent us.
I have to say however that I agree with her on many of her assertions. Let the FAA blow their own trumpets now; who are they anyway? A proper technical study of the project wasn't even initiated never mind completed. So who's to say what's right and what's wrong?
I hope my poorly-strung sentences don't grind too much on any language professors.
In any case we as citizens should expect some answers and some resignations because these is not just bad governance but also abuse of power and there was the risk that a treasure like the St John's Co-Cathedral will be in danger of irreparable damage by people that we pay to safeguard such monuments not destroy them .
If this project was forwarded to the EU two years ago so Dr Gonzi as prime minister then and now should shoulder his responsibility too and not find a scapegoat and force someone else to resign because if I’m not mistaken he is responsible of tourism now days!!
Recent excavations carried out beneath the Monte di Pietà building resulted in serious and widespread tension cracks along the walls. This was also the reason why excavations of the car park next to the Mosta Rotunda were immediately ruled out and not allowed to go to EIA stage. One wonders what pressure was put on MEPA to allow an EIA for an excavation outside St John’s when this was refused for the Rotunda, a more recent and less vulnerable structure which is not listed as a scheduled heritage monument.
Has everyone forgotten about the two ladies who were killed – buried under tons of rubble - when the block of flats they were in collapsed in St. Paul's Bay?
@Daphne, I suggest you also visit the site and instead of spreading your indigestion twice weekly, why don't you do something positive for a change?
Incidentally, it's called a magazine, not a recipe book. Recipes books are the sort that Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson have published. Books and magazines are different things, even though they're all 'ktieb' in Maltese. Learn the difference. It might help you get on in life.
By the way, I would use a dictionary and get some grammar lessons if I were you. Otherwise anyone reading this will be forced to conclude all AD/Labour/Astrid Vella supporters are sub-literate, semi-literate or, in the case of those whose comments are mainly question marks and interrogation marks, illiterate. Astrid supporters, my left foot. Please explain to me how people who can barely write are qualified to decide on a capital project of this nature. Apparently, the fact that you've got a vote has convinced you that your advice should be sought even on matters of which you know nothing. There's a term for it: mob rule.
But I guess now I'll never know.
And while time passes as we search for an alternative (which we will have to pay for with our taxes, instead of paying for it with EU money supplied by EU bureacrats intent on destroying our national heritage), it occurs to me that if in the meantime something DOES happen to our national heritage for lack of action, I might just want to blame Astrid Vella and the FAA, because, we never got a REAL opinion, on whether or not it was a good idea.
That says it all. That's MEPA Directorate not the "mob" speaking.
You don't need to be an expert to know that using mechanical diggers to dig a hole the size of a small quarry right beside a unique monument which has been standing there for over four centuries is bound to cause irreparable damage.
Why is it the usual suspects who are defending the indefensible? Was there more than meets the eye in this €14,000,000 stillborn white elephant?
Given that the Opera House is rebuilt, who will foot the production bill of every performance and recurrent expenditure? Would the Opera House pricing be affordable to all the public or would it serve the needs of the elitist and the establishment only? In that case better leave the place in ruins then spending my tax money for the enjoyment of the few.
The Government should augment its investment in sporting activities and encourage through schemes and incentives for more youths to practice some type of sport. No wonder we are one of the most obese people in the world!!!
@ DavidCassar – at the last published count,FAA had over 550members and now probably many more,which is very good going for an NGO which set up only two years ago and does not even have paid staff unlike other NGOs who have been strangely silent on this case.
Regarding the petition,1,500 is the number of signatures that were collected in only one week, and not the definitive number as people are still signing on,though luckily it is not needed for the Cathedral any longer and hopefully not for fighting for a theatre either as Dr. Gonzi would be wise to take the pulse of the general public before he leaves that out of his plans.
THAT'S RICH COMING FROM YOU, DAPHNE. WHO APPOINTED YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AS YOU OFTEN DO IN YOUR LONG DIATRIBES?
AND WHY ALL THIS INTEREST IN THE PROPOSED PROJECT?
SORRY - YOU'RE WRONG ON THIS ONE.
'She should be made to understand that the only people on whose behalf she speaks are Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar's members.'
ANOTHER INACCURACY, DEAR DAPHNE. I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE FAA AND IN SUCH MATTERS, INDEED, PEOPLE LIKE ASTRID MATTER MORE IN WHAT THEY SAY, THAN OTHERS, WHO POSSIBLY HAVE SECRET AGENDAS.
' What is she telling us here - that she is more credible than Monsignor Philip Calleja?'
EHHHMMM.... YES! INDEED.
'What arrogance.'
AGAIN, INDEED ... YOU WOULD SURELY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT!
Possible nominees by Dr. Gonzi on the board could just be Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Ray Bondin and why not Astrid herself who would certainly get my vote at her tenacity to defend right and just causes.
Well done Astrid, you are a woman of substance with no hidden agendas.
DOES anyone need to enter politics to fight for COMMON SENSE ? Likewise why not suggest the ARCHBISHOP Too !
"was signed by just 1,500 people, most of whom would have gone on nothing but the misinformation they had been fed"
Well correct me if I'm wrong but are we talking here about the difference between the PN and PL in last General Election? SO if 1,500 signed the petition mean nothing to Ms Caruana Galizia, what 1,200 votes mean to elect a Govt.?????
Please tell us how many votes did Richard Cachia Caruana obtain in the last election? Who is he to decide for us? He is no Gonzi, and no Dalli for that matter!
Astrid is one voice out of thousands whose noise became so thunderous that even your precious Gonzi succumbed to it.
@ Daphne Caruana Galizia
Are you advocating a dictatorship here? Are you trying to restrict the people to casting their vote and shut up for the next five years? Last Sunday you insisted that John Dalli must resign, tell us- who gave you that mandate? Some consistency in your statements indeed!
And why did you have to rope in Monsignor Philip Calleja to emphasize credibility when we all know that the one person you’re defending is Richard Cachia Caruana? And yet you are calling others arrogant. Maaaaa
You don't need me to tell you, but I will say it anyway: "Prosit u grazzi, Astrid". If only this country had more people as dedicated as you are!
There you go again. You let the cat out of the bag. Who mentioned Joseph Muscat in these posts? Y Yes we have to congratulate both Astrid and Joseph, now that you mentioned him, for the sterling service they did to their country. As I said in an earlier post they stood by what they believed in and your dear PM agreed with their reasoning and sounded the retreat.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Thank you for that!
And the 'survey' will be posted, when...?
>I understand how people who think that Joseph Muscat is the best thing to arrive on the >scene would think the same of Astrid. It's called lack of insight.
You see!!!
The pot wouldn't make such incredible conclusions!! so why insult it in such a way??
- As if ALL those voicing objection to the project think that JM is the best thing (read : even Nationalist benchers etc etc)
- As if all who approve of AV's work are even "Lil' Elves" !!! (Just look at the individuals concerned and you'll figure that one out pretty soon too)
- And finally -piece de resistance! - if you don't agree with "her" then you are ARROGANT and YES, you "lack insight"!!
Let me speak for myself: I guess I should go jump and end my misery immediately right?
And miss all this fun...??
Why this is better than comments from our "Boccone blogger(sic!)"....
Daphne, "the pot" has not done anything to me.
She has done it to herself.
"many thousands of people happen to agree with me" How about showing us the survey that says that thousands of people agree with u.
I would like to express my support and gratitude towards Ms. Vella for all the hard work she has done and is still doing.
What surveys do you need when you get such a statement? 'No choice' but to abandon project' - Cachia Caruana. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090213/local/no-choice-but-to-abandon-project-cachia-caruana. Dont you think that such statement speaks for itself in regard to where the sentiment of the people is? - quite impressive I would say
Look who's calling Astrid Vella arrogant...What a cheek.. Good show Astrid and all the others especially Joseph Muscat who managed to corner our ultra arrogant minority government li kellu jdoqq l-irtirata....
If you want Astrid Vella to represent you, ask her to stand for election and vote for her. Until then, please don't foist her on the rest of us. Thank you.
As for those who attempted to suggest, in very poorly constructed sentences, that I presume to speak for the people too, they should take a look at my column tomorrow. It's signed and headed 'Daphne Caruana Galizia', full-stop. I presume to speak for nobody but myself. If many thousands of people happen to agree with me, then it's not my problem. Apparently, it's yours.
I understand how people who think that Joseph Muscat is the best thing to arrive on the scene would think the same of Astrid. It's called lack of insight.
What FAA and Ms Vella should do now is not STOP here, but actually find a new location to house these tapestries. Find a large enough Palazzo (as they suggested), in which FAA will not object to allowing the gutting of all its interiors. Because the tapestries should be exhibited all together, they are over 6m in height and require to be housed all in one large space. These are not carpets that many Maltese have hunging in their dining rooms!
It is about time FAA goes the extra step; protecting our heritage doesn't only mean over-development!! You are now morally obliged to help find a new location within Valletta; failing in this will mean that YOU are responsible for the possible destruction of these century old gems!!
Astrid `s position was solely on behalf of our heritage. And she was right. Govt had to shelve the project. The Prime minister beat the retreat and, to save his face dragged along with him the Archbishop who, unlike GonziPN and Paul Borg Olivier , diplomatically refrained from pronouncing himself on the project prior to l-irtirata of the Govt. As simple as that.
The only and true reason for the retreat was a pn parliamentary group rebellion. Which architect in the pn parliamentary group would have voted in favour of the project and risking his professional reputation in the process.
For the Gov, It was a sane but unwilling decision that had to come. The govt was indeed shortsighted when standing for the project untill, yes, the irtirata.
More Astrids are needed where decisions are taken. Thank you, Astrid. You deserve Gieh ir-Repubblika, indeed
>Dear Daphne surely this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black!
And what exactly has the pot done to you to deserve such an "insult by association"...?!!
Why should Astrid Vella have to resign? She was the voice of thosands who managed to put a stop to irreparable damage to one of the jewels in the crown of our historical/cutlural heritage. Yes the members of the St John's Cathedral Foundation should resign en-block because they knew all about the plans and they did not utter one word of protest. If they do not resign it is up to the Archbishop and the Prime Minister to tell them to pack leave. How could it be that none of these gentlemen -frocked or otherwise - did not see the absurdity of this project and the possible harm it could have done to the cathedral. Please do not repeat your and RCC's now worn out criticism about uinformed advice. There was enough informed warning about the dangers and the futility of the project and this was ignored by the members of the Foundation. Yes they must resign and Astrid vella must go on with her next campaign to stop the nonsense of Parliament instead of an Opera House in the City Gate Project. Ms Vella will have a stronger and bigger support on this one too
You said that Astrid Vella is speaking on behalf of the majority fo the Maltese people. Have you seen any surveys that were carried out by FAA, or are you impressed with the 1400 signatures that FAA managed to collect against this project?
Ms Vella stood up for what was right and thankfully her and our views were listened too. There is nothing underhand about Ms Vella.
Of course the foundation members should resign if they had an ounce of decency about them,but we are in Malta and nobody ever resigns.
Look who's talking about arrogance. Who gave you the right to voice the people's views about this project, when the people really did not need anyone to that for them? If you read the comments that other people posted I'm sure that you would have thought otherwise. Unless you also think, that we should not be allowed to interfere in such discussions, similarly to what RCC commented earlier?
While Astrid stood by what she believed in, the Monsignor had to sound the retreat.
I am surprised how a group of people have the cheek and arrogance to demand something which they do not have any right whatsoever to demand.
Who are these people in this group, what credentials and qualifications do they have and in whose name are they making such demands?
As far as I know, I do not remember any election where I was called to vote for such a group!
This is nothing but PRESUMPTIONESS and ARROGANCE!
../..
I know of another person who is not elected by the people, but appears to think he can do whatever he likes with our country, including digging a hole in the middle of Valletta. Astrid Vella, and she's not alone, is speaking for the majority of the Maltese who are against the St John's project. Common sense prevailed, and the Prime Minister dropped the project, although out of convenience.