Antoine Vella, Balzan
Money well spent on St George's Square events
Like thousands of others, I attended some of the activities held recently in Valletta as part of the inauguration of St George's Square. Although the occasion may have been the completion of the rehabilitation project, the performances themselves were of a cultural nature and consistent with the government's policy of reviving Valletta by holding artistic and entertainment events in the city.
Since the refurbishment of the square represents yet another step towards the physical and architectural restoration of our capital city, it was fittingly accompanied by a spectacle that was a celebration of its social and cultural life.
That is why it is unfair to criticise the programme and call the events an "unnecessary expense" (Editorial, December 22). Since when is culture a waste of money? Apart from their intrinsic value, the activities served to attract business for shops and catering establishments in the city.
The programme also included a well-attended festival to promote fine Maltese wines, providing a showcase for the most important sector of our agro-industry.
We need more such activities, not less, and whoever was responsible for the planning and organisation deserves to be commended.
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Anthony Mizzi
Dec 29th 2009, 14:46
@Antoine Balzan
What thousands? What rehabilitation? What reviving of Valletta? You call revival of Valletta a one night's splashing about to music and at this cost? Isn't there a recession about?
You call removal of the Sette Giunjo Monument a step towards physical and architectural restoration of our capital city and be replaced by sprouting jets of water similar to muiltiple bidet sprouts?
Has infact Valletta been revived with that spectacle? You certainly have not visited Valletta since the opening of that open space which in fact allit is a re-paved ex-a car-park and figures speak out for themselves.
You call culture when the focal point of the Square, Anton Agius' the Sette Giunjo Monument was removed and with it part of our identity, our National Heritage?
Is that Culture for you?
Godfrey Camilleri
Dec 29th 2009, 12:46
Although I attended some of the festivities I fully agree that the money spent was a waste and after all I am not at all impressed by the architecture/furniture set up.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 29th 2009, 12:27
Mr Antoine Vella is missing the point. What many are objecting to was not the expense as such, but the fact that a simple and routine project like the re-paving of a square was hyped-up into the event of the century, complete with a hulking plaque which informs us that, through this project "Il-Poplu Malti .... issielet u ċċelebra, zviluippa u kiber".!!
Pompous? Le, ma tarax!
Galea. L
Dec 29th 2009, 11:52
When you are in debt and you have every problem that you can imagine, do you go and spend more money to celebrate something which is considered as normal work in all other countries and no celebrations are needed or do you save the money for more important things Antoine? This is simply a great waste of money as was said in the editorial. No wonder the country and the people are in such dire straits with such mind-boggling thinking among the pn apologists.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 29th 2009, 11:51
@ Antoine Vella - You must have blue blinkers on your nose. If you cannot afford to call a feast, you just don't it, fullstop! And the same applies to the country - we are in dire straits, haven't you heard or read? So, let's stop admiring our party-in-government, please, and call a spade a spade. The Editorial in question was spot-on!