The capital city's new clothes

With apologies to Hans Christian Anderson, the latest in a never ending series of plans for Valletta remind me of the story of the Emperor's New Clothes when all the lackey faithful citizens decried the beauty of the non-existent clothes and it was up to a small child to show one and all that they had been taken for a ride and that, in fact, the emperor was in his all-together.

I have some questions to ask to who-so-ever is involved.

Some years ago it was proposed by the very Renzo Piano that the theatre would be rebuilt. Now we are told that it would not be possible.

Which is the correct version?

What used to be called Queen's Street will be eliminated. How will traffic enter Valletta? Will much of Valletta be isolated during those events when Republic Street is used for special festivities?

The idea was to keep the traffic out of the central part of the city. What will happen to Melita and Ordnance Streets?

The fortified city, by its very nature, requires good defences. Will this be achieved without a gate? Other cities build triumphal gates while in Malta this is replaced by a gap in a wall, open to one and all. (What is the Malta Environment and Planning Authority going to say, unless it is mesmerised or terrified?) Who ever heard of a gate without a gate?

St James Cavalier is presently partially visible; in future this will be completely obscured.

The objection for a proper theatre is that it will be too high. Surely Mr Piano knows about excavations and, at the same time, what about the height of the new Parliament building?

This is Valletta's paradox that the Prime Minister, dazzled by his entourage, has not even noticed. Has the Prime Minister been taken for a ride?

Are the powers-that-be aware that other cities are served by an underground transport system, thus making it easy for the people to move about? Do these powers expect the people to walk all along the hilly and steep streets of the city as it seems that no further parking spaces will be available in the future? Will this be the death knell of our city?

Does the project have to be implemented in toto or can it be on a cut- and-paste basis?

Who will truly gain by a Piano project? Could it be that Mr Piano has been imposed on our Prime Minister who would not dare say no?

Can Malta afford the theoretical €80 million earmarked for this project? What will it cost in umpteen years' time when it might even be completed after untold changes of plans, extensions, eliminations, delays and confusions galore? Why spend money to destroy a bridge and develop a garden that, even before it is finished, will revert to a rubbish dump?

Would any authority reply to the above or does the high and mighty feel they are untouchables?