Monument to be temporarily moved during car park works

Raymond Sammut

Feb 17th 2009, 09:54

First yet another monument to brainwash the masses. Having done that, then get the damn thing out of the way while no-one is looking and dig up a car-park for your own convenience.

The British ruled and destroyed in one way, Maltese politicians rule and destroy in another way. Never mind Malta's heritage. Never mind the historical civil engineering that lies underneath, so long as they can park their car and do not have to walk.

Look at the irony: "The planning application includes the upgrading of the square, which will be returned to pedestrians." All of Valletta belongs to pedestrians, not just the square, so you are not returning anything. Valletta is a heritage city for people to walk around, and enjoy their heritage, not for someone's convenience. This is sheer hypocrisy and unabated arrogance.

jane pace

Feb 17th 2009, 04:35

remember the supposed underground car park in Floriana? what an eyesore that turned out to be,..,.,..why can't that car park be used as the main one,..,, because the workers won't walk we have to suffer another shoddy project!!!!! .,.,in the square of all places???,.shame.,,,,,,,,,,,

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 17th 2009, 01:46

IF EVER THERE WAS A MONUMENT THAT NEEDED MOVING , NOT TEMPORARY , BUT PERMANENTLY , THAT MONUMENT IS NONE OTHER THAN THE "MONUMENT TAL-HELSIEN" BETTER KNOWN AS "L-GHOLJA TAL-HELSIEN ". THE MODEST SQUARE IN FRONT OF HISTORIC ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR SUCH A MONUMENT AND THUS RENDERS IT OUT OF PROPORTION.
I SUGGEST THAT ON THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY , NO CHANCE OF EXCAVATING A MULTI -STOREY UNDERGROUND PARKING HERE, THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD ALLOCATE A NEW SITE SUCH AS THE SQUARE IN PAOLA OR AT OPEN AREAS LIKE SANTA MARGHERITA , OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF VITTORIOSA , PLACES THAT ARE MUCH MORE FREQUENTED .PIAZZA GAVINO GULIA OR THE AREA TO BE DEVELOPED ALONG NO 1 DOCK. THE GAGAZZA BASE , A RENOUNED HAVEN FOR SOME RODENTS ,SHOULD BE ELIMINATED AND REPLACED & RE-DESIGNED IN THE SAME FORM AS A LANDSCAPED MOUND , ADDING SOME WATER JETS TO GIVE IT LIFE ALONG THE SAME WINDING PATH TO THE TOP . I 'M SURE THAT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOSEPH MUSCAT THE P.L. WILL TAKE THIS FAVOURABLY , CONSIDERING THIS MONUMENT WOULD BECOME MORE PROMINENT AND ACCESSIBLE .

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Noel Cutajar

Feb 16th 2009, 22:36

Do you call progress an underground car park?

J Martinelli

Feb 16th 2009, 18:12

I smell the kings and queens of the 'status quo' starting to badger this project. A few decades ago no such worthwhile projects were undertaken except the monument in question and another one in front of St. Lawrence church in Vittoriosa. Why is it that any attempt to bring Malta into the 21st century is met with antagonism? While everyone should be proud of what we already have, we should not remain static when all countries around the world are constantly making their environment more attractive to their citizens and tourists alike. I can already see some honing their knives and getting ready to draw and quarter a number of major projects in the pipeline. Progress, for some, is a very bad word indeed.

tony griscti

Feb 16th 2009, 18:02

Was an EIA done for these excavations?... if there was danger for excavations for St. John's, why is there no danger to the Grand Master Palace, is one more important than the other, and what about the Main Guard? Is St. George's square scheduled to level 1? St. George's square should be made car free immediately and no excavations should take place. Members of parliament should learn to walk to go to parliament and give back this square back to the public and not to the cars.

Wilfred L Camilleri

Feb 16th 2009, 17:52

Why in haven's sake are they building an underground car park in the middle of historical Valletta? What is the justification for this? What should be happening is the elimination of all vehicular traffic in Valletta except for residents and delivery vehicles. Those who work in Valletta should be offered parking outside of Valletta with shuttle service to take them to and from Valletta. If public transportation was improved, many of these workers could use public transport instead of driving in. Insanity reigns supreme!

c.camilleri

Feb 16th 2009, 17:04

I think Govt should give priority to our roads before embarking on such unnecessary projects.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 16th 2009, 15:19

@ Mr. Albert Buttigieg Thanks for your comment right there.,the first entry on this Article. What an INSPIRATION you have been in mentioning/reminding that they intend to relocate PARLIAMENT ,(.....HOPEFULLY not at the OPERA HOUSE Site) , thus leaving a substantially large enough chamber that could become ''THE TAPESTRY CHAMBER'' . The solution was right under our noses ! IT has the advantage of it's proximity to the Cathedral , whilst adding Prestige and Importance to the GRAND OLD PALACE and a vital attraction that compliments The Armoury and The State Rooms.

Joseph Cauchi

Feb 16th 2009, 14:15

It seems it is becoming a Maltese pastime to object and halt any infrastructural project that will benefit the local economy in this dire economic crunch! Any takers from some NGO perhaps? ../..

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 16th 2009, 13:20

@ i galea . V RC & R.Bondin

It may be an obsession, yes, but there are Contractors & workers JOBS at stake , moreover with this economical slow-down. Just look at that Crater in Msida or the one at the Galexy in Sliema.

Surprisingly ,this other Project was disclosed., just as soon as the St. John's Cathedral (hot )Project was aborted.!!! Were they waiting to see the outcome ? Thought it had been forgotten since the creation of the Park & Ride seemed an alternative also to the Freedom Square underground parking.

I object strongly to IT'S dismantling and temporary removal . IT only covers roughly the space of TWO CARS !!!! This is superfluous ,a waste of time and money above all. Will it be removed in one piece ?..... says dismantling here !! ... Absurd !
What is this gluttony ? So greedy ...... can't you even spare a few (circa 50 square meters) from this excavation.

Agree with Mr. R Bondin that the excavation could go deeper, but just two levels, no way to his suggestion of housing the St. Johns Museum Extension here. Or Are you attempting to nullify this project too ?

George Bugeja

Feb 16th 2009, 11:35

Please make the move permanent. It's a hideous monument that should have no place in Valletta.

Iris Azzopardi

Feb 16th 2009, 09:26

This hideous socialist-realist 'sculpture' should be removed once and for all, so that Palace Square can be restored to its former dignity.

lgalea

Feb 16th 2009, 09:18

p.s.
Why should the people who pay taxes through their noses fund such a project simply to have a one-storey car park with all the havoc that it will cause?

Shame, Shame and shame again to the proposers.

lgalea

Feb 16th 2009, 09:16

First of all this is an insult to our fallen under the hands of the colonialist power ruling Malta at the time.

Secondly, why is this obsession of digging, digging and more digging?

What about the underground system running under Valletta that could be developed as a tourist attraction?

What about the danger to the Palace and the Main Guard building leading to damage or their collapse?

Are those who dream up such pie in the sky projects out of their minds?

STOP TRYING TO DESTROY OUR HERITAGE.

Albert Buttigieg

Feb 16th 2009, 08:59

Can someone be kind enough to explain why digging this square, does not create a danger to the palace, as was the case with St John's? And with the parliament supposedly moving out of the palace, do we still need a car park here?