President reopens Palace door to San Anton
President George Abela has decided to reopen the door at San Anton Palace which gives people access to San Anton Gardens from St Anthony Street, Attard.
The door was closed, amid some controversy, during the Agatha Barbara presidency for reasons of privacy and security.
Dr and Mrs Abela this morning heard Mass at the historic chapel at San Anton Palace and then invited those present, mostly neighbours, for a tour of the Palace. The President handed out Easter eggs to the children present.
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Aldo Attard
Apr 26th 2009, 23:32
To say the truth, this was one of the thoughts that came to my mind to suggest to you when you were elected as our new president. But when good and reliable citizens are entrusted with leadership, they can focus and act in the right direction on their own steam.
Cheers to the new President.
stephen buttigieg
Apr 23rd 2009, 09:07
Thanks Mr President. Walking through the narrow Lord Strickland Street with a push chair and children is no fun.The back door has brought San Anton to within walking distance of many in Lija and Attard. A very sensible and welcome decision. I am positively surprised the decision came only after 1 week of the new presidency. Thanks once again. I can now go to San Anton with the kids everyday. I would not have been happier had I won the lottery.
Norman Stivala
Apr 14th 2009, 20:19
Hats off to our new president for opening the door through the Palace. Some two years ago I used to look for walks in the morning, I used to walk from Fleur de lys, through the rabat road on the inside of the aquaduct, and then to San Anton, I tried to pass once through San Anton gardens then through the palace, to the other side, was stopped by the closed door, complained vigorously with the soldier on duty, naturally was told he could do nothing as he has to follow orders, and the orders had come from high up. I gave up going that way even though I love gardens, but I hate in a walk to return from the same route, and started going toward Romeo romano, nice garden but no comparison to San Anton. I am happy to say that I will soon resume the old way, and enjoy the pleasures of walking right through San Anton to Attard. Thank you Mr. President.
Norman
Ronnie Gauci
Apr 14th 2009, 15:24
The same person who promised to re-open the MLP for everyone if elected leader is proving himself as president by opening what was closed for the public in the past. Dr. Abela is surely a man of his word and time will show that last June the MLP delegates made the biggest mistake of their lives, even bigger than their previous ones, not voting him as leader. They gambled a certain electoral victory and a competent future prime minister and instead they decided to keep the party as it was, only changing the name of the party and its leader. Surely not enough.
carmen spiteri
Apr 13th 2009, 22:16
How nice, after all this time, prosit Mr. President. I remember when i was just a little girl and our adventure was when we used to go through the silence of the Palace, near the Chapel and out of San Anton Gardens, we really used to enjoy it. It brought back nice memories. For sure it was not in Ms Barbara's time when it was closed.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Apr 13th 2009, 20:35
I remember passing through that door a few years back , it was closed during President Guido De Marco`s presidency for security reasons and i must say that makes sense as with that door open only glass panes separate the public from the Palace . In these days of increased risk from terrorism it makes no sense leaving them open. One can easily walk around to the main gate of San Anton gardens and walking is good for your health.
Victoria Vella
Apr 13th 2009, 17:26
As a former resident of the area, may I point out that it was Mrs Violet de Marco who decided to close off the palace doors after an incident when someone took a potshot at one of the palace windows. It was definitely not Ms A. Barbara.
Peter Paul Camilleri
Apr 13th 2009, 16:59
Prosit. A very welcome decision. Residents in the area have long been deprived of this beautiful, alternative entrance.
James De Giorgio
Apr 13th 2009, 13:14
I join the chorus of people claiming that they would have voted PL had Abela been elected PL leader. I have been saying that ever since the Nationalists, cunning as ever, nominated him and the Labourites, jumping on the opportunity to make Muscat shine as much as possible by getting Abela out of the way, took up the offer to enable a "historic unanimous vote".
Sigh...
Stefan Gatt
Apr 13th 2009, 10:47
I really appriciate this nice gesture from our new President and fully agree with Pierre Borg that PL have missed a golden opportunity to have Dr. Abela as leader.
M. Cilia
Apr 13th 2009, 10:11
Well said, Pierre Borg.
P.Attard
Apr 13th 2009, 09:39
And I had the impression that the back door had been blocked for us common people during Dr. Fenech Adami's "reign"! It is surely a wise decision and I humbly thank H. E. Dr. Abela for taking it. It has been years now since the last time I visited that lovely and historical chappel!
Anthony Grech
Apr 12th 2009, 22:27
iva ghadna president ta kullhadd mhux ghax l-ohrajn le pero dan hu president li gej minn familja tax xoghol u ghalhekk se nkun il- president at kullhadd jien perswas li bhall ta qablu se ikompli jahdem b`risq il=poplu kollu
J Micallef
Apr 12th 2009, 22:04
Mr. President... thanks for the opening of the door....
Maybe you could be kind enough to help the GWU and the MDU solve the mess that you had helped create... a mess which has ended in a grave threat to worker rights and democracy.
P Debono
Apr 12th 2009, 20:10
Just goes to show what an excellent person Dr. Abela is.
I am a traditional Nationalist but I would not have hesitated to vote for the PL if Dr. Abela won the leadership contest. And I'm sure at least half of the PN supporters would have done the same thing. This is what makes the appointment of Dr. Abela as President Gonzi's smartest chess move in his political career.
Ray Bondin
Apr 12th 2009, 18:32
Excellent move Mr. President. Small moves that mean a lot. Our President should be as open to all as possible.
Francis X and Doris Grima
Apr 12th 2009, 18:22
Thanks a lot Mr President. A gesture which we both welcome as we were very disappointed when this access to our wonderful gardens was closed. Before this door was closed we used to enjoy wonderful walks from one end of San Anton Gardens to the other.
San Anton Gardens are an important part of Malta's heritage and should be enjoyed by all us Maltese.
Thanks again for this welcome decision to both you and your lovely wife, Margaret.
pierre borg
Apr 12th 2009, 17:25
well done mr. president. as someone said before me he is for the people. sorry to say this but this is what PL needed, someone like Dr. Abela. PL u missed the boat.
lorry fabri
Apr 12th 2009, 16:46
hate to say i told you so, we will be seeing lots and lots of changes,when someone is not political motivated we are only going to see a different way of how the Presidence should be operated, apart the fact that pres George is of the people and to the people, roll on good times. lorry fabri
CharlesFalzon
Apr 12th 2009, 14:21
Nice gesture from a nice man.
May the goodwill continue all round.
g. scerri
Apr 12th 2009, 14:12
Thanks Mr. President. The people of the area appreciate it. Finally we have a President that does not feel hunted.