Judge for Palace project

The Palace in Valletta will be restored to its former glory and used only as the President's office, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday. He insisted it was now time for action.

Mr Justice Giovanni Bonello was appointed as superintendent of the Palace and will oversee the "difficult and ambitious" project, which will cover the restoration of the ground floor, converting it to an exhibition area of items that were part of Malta's heritage.

Although he refused to give a deadline, Dr Gonzi said the Palace would be restored within four years.

The other offices, which include those of the Attorney General, the Malta Community Chest Fund, the Public Services Commission, and Parliament, would be moved elsewhere.

The Palace and St George's Square were at the heart of the government's vision for Valletta - it started from there, Dr Gonzi said, adding there were plans to draw up specific legislation for capital projects in Valletta.

Despite speculation that Parliament would be shifted to the Opera House ruins, Dr Gonzi kept his cards to his chest. He would only say that the process to identify sites for each office had started and when a decision was taken, these would move.

During a recent meeting between the government and Bernard Plattner, the partner of Italian architect Renzo Piano, ideas were discussed but the exact siting of Parliament was not identified, he said.

The Sunday Times recently reported that Mr Piano was opting for a versatile cultural and performance centre on the Opera House site, positioning Parliament in Freedom Square next to it, a move that was more in keeping with the public outcry for a more culture-oriented project in the ruins.