Environment in shambles - new Din l-Art Ħelwa president

The new president of Din L-Art Ħelwa has called for the urgent protection of the environment and cultural heritage.

At the organisation's annual general meeting held in Valletta yesterday, Petra Bianchi said: "Our environment is in shambles. The countryside is scarred with development everywhere and enforcement on illegal buildings is wholly inadequate."

She said little progress had been made with alternative energy or the control of emissions, while the country's coastline and marine environment were under huge pressure. Malta's water resources were endangered and not much had been done to address this, she said.

In a strongly worded statement, Dr Bianchi also drew attention to important historic sites such as Fort St Angelo and Fort St Elmo, which were "crumbling".

While welcoming Environment Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco's commitment to draw up a national policy and strategy for the environment, DLĦ said he needed to address the country's environmental disaster without further delay, and establish the proper environmental priorities in decision-making at all levels.

Dr Bianchi also addressed the controversy over plans for a Parliament building and open-air theatre at the entrance to Valletta, saying the city's status as a World Heritage Site meant the need to safeguard its heritage stretched beyond the country's shores.

"The whole entrance to Valletta, from the bus terminus to the opera house ruins, is unworthy of a historic city which aspires to the status of a World Heritage site. A decision on how to radically improve the entrance to this great city has been long overdue," Dr Bianchi said.

While avoiding any stand on whether the proposed theatre should have a roof, Dr Bianchi said DLĦ favoured one holistic vision for the entrance to Valletta following contemporary designs of the highest standard.

Architect Renzo Piano had a world class reputation, she said, adding that "his works deserve the weight and respect deriving from that reputation.

"Debate is healthy. However there comes a point when debate must end and action has to be taken... Valletta must be allowed to move on," she said.