Demand for graves in Mellieha cemetery exceeds supply

Pule' Carmel

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:20

I would not mind at all if I am buried at sea with my coffin left to roam the bottom of the nearby coast where the sea water and sky above me acting as my blanket and eitherdown for the rest of eternity..

Charles Sammut

Jan 21st 2010, 22:03

@ Joseph Calleja

Don't worry about your typo. Many years ago I visited the grave of an acquantaince who is buried at Ta' Braxia cemetery and who had always wished to be cremated. When I mentioned this to the custodian as I was leaving, he told me " Ehh, hija, Malta m'ghandniex incrimination." Tridx tmur!!

oliver mallia

Jan 21st 2010, 18:41

8000 euros for each grave cost price? Each grave approx size 10Ft x 3Ft x 10 course high about 160 stones or bricks @.50 cents of euro each. 80 euros 160 Bricks, 100 euros Floor slabs (top of grave) 300 euros Escevation maximun 1000 euros labour work maximum 1480 euros Total + labour work I keept my calculations as high as posible so price should be less expensive than qouted SO FROM WERE ARE COMING THE 8000 EUROS per grave? Can some one explain in further details? With 8000 euros you build a studio flat of about 30 square meters

Joseph Calleja

Jan 21st 2010, 18:09

It seems like the majority of comments go in favor of cremation. (sorry about my earlier typo). When the priest says 'May he/she rest in peace' I guess he only means for a short time as the cadaver body of the deceased is exhumed in a couple of years and someone else is buried in it's place. Once cremated the ashes can be scattered over the seas or wherever the family decides and that way a person can really rest in peace. Put that in your will, make the family aware that is your last wish. The bible does mention ashes to ashes, and so be it. The extension would cost around €30 million and the project would be self-financing. That money can build a nice respectable crematorium to accommodate the whole island.

Mark Crocker

Jan 21st 2010, 15:55

I hope that people who buy graves at Mellieha will not have to wait as long as I did to sign the contract. Three years ago I purchased a government grave at Burmarrad and paid in full. To date I have still not been called to sign the relative contract despite many phone calls, emails and letters. The way the citizen is treated in this country is unbelievable.

Joe Vella

Jan 21st 2010, 14:32

@ Tony Abela

The cemetery in question is not the one behind the Parish Church, but the one at at the bottom of Marfa Road near the Luna Holiday Complex. It is known as the "Cimiterju tal - Jogoslavi."

E Gatt

Jan 21st 2010, 13:03

The reason why we don’t have a crematorium in Malta has nothing to do with the government, Church or religion.

On average around eight people die in Malta every day. If a quarter of these opt for cremation, this would mean two a day. Apparently the furnace should be kept burning for the crematorium to be financially feasible - two ‘customers’ a day is not worth it.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 21st 2010, 12:51

From ashes to ashes,dust to dust. The bible is more progressive than our government because it gives a choice. When I die I want to be cremated,am I expected to burn myself on my death bed? lol

DVella

Jan 21st 2010, 12:11

Isn't it about time this country 'got a life' and installed a few decent crematoriums?? (!)

Mario Borg

Jan 21st 2010, 12:00

When are we going to introduce cremation in our country? This could free up lots of scarce (and expensive ) land

Joseph Calleja

Jan 21st 2010, 11:57

The solution to grave recycling is creamation. The ashes can be retained by the family in a small urn and kept in a crypt or disposed off as the family wishes. It is much cheaper and still very dignified. A body should not be buried underground to be dug up again in a couple of years to make room for someone else. To me that is very disrespectful. The whole ritual of death and funerals etc have become big business and many people cannot afford the cost. Even graves have become a comodity of supply and demand. After all it's the soul that servives, the body just deminishes.

adrian aquilina

Jan 21st 2010, 11:07

time to start building crematoriums..cremation is a better and cleaner and enviromentaly better way then burial..unbeleivable we have no cremation..religion getting in the way of what is right as usual?

Mark Anthony Tagliaferro

Jan 21st 2010, 10:59

Maybe it's time we have a proper functioning Cremation Unit in Malta.

EDWIN DE MARCO

Jan 21st 2010, 10:51

I think it's about time we start cremating people. It's saves a lot of space, is more hygienic & could provide some jobs in the whole process From "ashes to ashes"......

Peter Mangion

Jan 21st 2010, 10:48

what are the actual advantages of burying people as opposed to cremation?

i am assuming there must be a million since we insist on doing this........

Peter

Victor Laiviera

Jan 21st 2010, 10:45

When will Malta join the rest of the civilised world and allow cremation?

Ramon Casha

Jan 21st 2010, 10:37

CREMATORIUM

Peter Murray

Jan 21st 2010, 10:36

When are the Maltese goverment(regardless of who is in power) going to acknowledge and respect other peoples' religion and personal wishes and grant them the fundamental right of want they want to do with their or their families remains?I refer specifially to being granted the right to be cremated and the construction of a crematorium.Is it because the Catholic Church forbids this form of remains disposal?Do Hindus or Muslims for example in their countries forbid burials ?What about respecting other peoples' religious stance and duty in this crucial area and what happens when ,as is inevitable,we eventually run out of land for burial purposes?

tony abela

Jan 21st 2010, 10:34

Is the Mellieha Cemetry government owned? It appears strange to me as normally the Cemetries other than the Adolorata one are all Parish owned.

It is strange that the Social Policy Ministry is involved in such a matter except for the endorsment of the development application by the Heath Authorities.