Piano’s City Gate project ‘on target’

Raymond Sammut

Sep 23rd 2011, 15:36

The Tritons would be spectacular, true. They had always been in the past, especially when the fountain used to be operated with a multicolored lighting system back in the sixties.

Nevertheless, as Renzo Piano pointed out, anything standing on the ex-bus terminus obstructs the pedestrian's perspective looking towards the city gate.

For example, a cinematographer would want to capture the entire facade, from one Cavalier to the other with the gate at centre mark, without any obstacles in the way as they shoot across horizontally. Clearly, Mr Piano's observation is spot on.

Mario Camilleri

Sep 23rd 2011, 17:49

@ Raymond Sammut,
You forgot something. Its us who are going to pay for this so called Piano project out of public coffers. So why should Piano tell us what and how to do things in our home land? Do we tell him what to do at his home?
We are the clients, so he should respect us.
Normally the contractor offer his observations as a professional, but eventually he has to abide by the client's decision. That how it works.
What Piano is doing, is simply imposing his artistic ideas on us which in turn that would serve him as a free (for him but €80m or more for us taxpayers) Piano artistic exposure and exhibition.
We could have done better or more good deeds with that amount of money not give it away to some artistic foreigner. At least this Piano project could have been delayed until the recession is over.
A good, wise and responsible parent wouldn't go out buying a new car when he knows that his family are striving to make ends meet. But then again not all parents are wise and responsible.

Raymond Sammut

Sep 23rd 2011, 18:41

@ Mario Camilleri

From an economics perspective, the Piano project helps Malta's economy --when private investment is lower than average. Economists worldwide advice their respective governments to increase expenditure during low economic activity. This project helps Malta's unemployment stay lower and provides cash to help maintain consumer spending. (Please refer to some of the introductory texts on economics theory and practice.)

When the project is completed, it will be a revenue earner for the government. The Valletta entrance, adjacent to both Cavaliers, always remained underdeveloped post-WWII. The Maltese people, for some sixty years, have been extremely uncanny with this prime portion of our national heritage --thanks to incompetent governments.

You just don't make money from oil-stained "socialist propaganda freedom" squares and "mandraggio"-like flats targeted for the party faithful. So please --don't keep whinging about the 80 million. Malta has already wasted many more times than that in opportunity cost.

As to Mr Piano --I hardly think the Italian gentleman is imposing his artistic ideas on us. I wish he was. Just look across the road and see what was imposed on us back in the 70's. Whose artistic idea was that?

Mario Camilleri

Sep 24th 2011, 15:38

@ Raymond Sammut,
Do you know who's going to finance this so called "bravura ta' Piano"? And why do you always dig down to a a certain level in the past? History goes back further than the 80's & 70's. I talked about the present!!!
Let me remind you that in the early 70's poverty was abolished from the streets. There were no poor people bagging for food and money. You wouldn't see children half naked with thorn clothing, barefoot, smelly and dirty on the streets. 80% of the population had no hygienic utilities such as proper wcs let alone bathrooms in the 60's. Do you remember the "Slums" (kerrejjiet)? But this is all in the past unless your only shield is the past. Today we have big difficulties trying to make ends meet let alone giving away €80 plus to some foreigner. Today Malta is €5bn (Lm2.15bn) in debt. Prior to '87 Malta €1.62bn (LM456m) SURPLUS not debt.

Quote:- "Economists worldwide advice their respective governments to increase expenditure during low economic activity".
Unquote:- Have you ever tried eating the food printed on a magazine? It looks nice and well presented, but in reality can you eat it? Economists earn big money and most of them are paid for their propaganda therefore they would have no problem in dealing with bills, life, medicines and the rest. Have you ever tried paying your bills the way economists advise you to? I bet you never, cause it all boils down to what's in your pocket. That's how bills and other materials are paid for!!! Unless of course you are well off!!!

As for your remark "Just look across the road and see what was imposed on us back in the 70's", it seems that you're not old enough to remember that opposite the TreToni fountain the "City Gate", that ugly squarish blocks set up one on top of the other, the one demolished recently was erected way back in 1966 when the PN then under George Borg Olivier pulled down the Old City Gate, the one that had much more historic and architectural features which combined with the city architecture. And em, I don't know what "happened" to the statues or where they are, although I would bet somewhere in some garden or palace, who knows!! Surely not they were not demolished nor auctioned or sold maybe to pay for some of the debt Malta was in the 60's.
So we've spent money then and now for the same thing! And both under the PN!!! Can you believe it?