Claudia Calleja
Cremation revived as grave alternative
Some of the nearly 7,000 grave applications have been pending for over a decade. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
As Malta’s cemeteries become fuller the Health Ministry is considering the introduction of cremation as part of a policy to tackle the growing lack of burial space.
“The policy aims at addressing the situation in which the demand for more graves is getting bigger every year, and thus considers various solutions and options available... which range from building other graves and adding grave sites to options such as a crematorium,” a ministry spokesman said.
Currently, cremation is not regulated by law since there are no crematoriums. However, bodies that were cremated abroad have been allowed a normal burial.
The Church does not oppose cremation but recommends that the ashes are buried and not kept in urns or scattered.
At the moment government cemeteries have more than 22,293 graves, 1,776 of which are common.
The bulk of the graves are at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery where there are 15,538 graves that include 14,329 privately owned and 1,209 common ones.
Until May this year there were 6,748 pending applications to buy graves with 4,029 of the applicants wanting a burial space at the Addolorata. Some applications have been pending for over a decade.
Over the past years the government has been looking at ways to solve the problem of the lack of burial space and come up with various proposals to extend the cemetery.
In 2006 former Health Minister Louis Deguara had announced that some 2,782 graves were to be developed. Three years later his successor, John Dalli, said the previous plans had been scrapped because they did not respect the architectural heritage of the Paola cemetery.
Mr Dalli, who is now an EU commissioner, announced a massive €33 million extension of 9,000 new graves at the Addolorata to be built over three years.
He said a piece of land had been identified for a crematorium but the government was not interested in actually developing or managing it and would leave this up to the private sector. Mr Dalli also said each new grave would be sold for about €8,000 – an increase of over €4,000 over prices still applicable today.
Despite these promises, no new graves have materialised as yet.
A ministry spokesman said the government was working on the policy to address the problem.
“In fact plans have been laid down for the extension of the Addolorata cemetery which will accommodate about 2,900 graves,” he said adding that it was not possible to give a timeframe for the completion of the policy.
Speaking in Parliament last week, Health Minister Joseph Cassar confirmed that the real cost of a new grave was €8,000 and this will be reflected in amendments to the price order regulating the price of graves at the Addolorata.
The minister said the extension of the Addolorata was still in its initial stage, with workers involved in site clearance.
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John M Grima
Oct 25th 2011, 17:58
From ashes you are born, and to ashes you will go.
Anthony Roberts
Oct 25th 2011, 16:28
A very great friend of mine was cremated in the UK and his ashes were brought back to Malta.
Nathalie Frendo
Oct 25th 2011, 16:06
I am all in favour of cremation. Of course the church will have something to oppose It prefers us to bury the ashes. What if I want to keep the ashes of a loved oine with me at home? Is the church the owner of these ashes by any chance? If not then I can keep whose ashes I want it will not be the church to tell me what to do. The persistence of the church to keep its hang over everybody does not even vanish after ones death. What a way to rest in peace.
Charles Zammit
Oct 25th 2011, 14:28
My first letter to The Times goes back over 12 years concerning a Crematorium in Malta !! I wonder if one will get the right to be cremated soon . It will be a hard job for a Crematorium to come about as the grave business is a profitable one .
Joseph Calleja
Oct 25th 2011, 15:45
Mr Zammit you hit the nail right on the head.....Somehow or other it all ends up having to do with money.
Joseph Calleja
Oct 25th 2011, 14:24
€8,000 for a grave? Pretty soon there comes a time when it is way to expensive to die. I don't have the slightest idea why in a small country like Malta cremation is not an option. I always hated the idea that in some villages they bury you, and in two years time they exhume the body and move the bones so they can make room for the next person. What is so sacred about that? Why is Malta so incompetent and so disrespectful towards the dead? Besides why not be able to be cremated so the family can take the ashes of their loved ones home or have the ashes scattered over the ocean. Why disgrace a dead body and bury it as they say, six foot deep and in many cases one body on top of another? What kind of respect is that? The Government should make it a priority to build a crematorium so a family of a death person can have an option of what to do with the body. The dead don't care where they are buried as long as it is respectful. What if you cannot afford the €8,000 for a grave? I suggest the Government start building a crematorium and fast because we are starting to run out of money and out of room. "The demand for more graves is getting bigger every year". and so is the price. Most commentators seem to favour cremation. I don't think we need another referendum to figure this one out? Excellent article Ms Claudia Calleja.
Francesca Abela
Oct 25th 2011, 12:10
About time - Malta is years behind the times! Consider the prices of graves being sold for over 12,000 euros and the high cost of funerals in Malta, with cremation one can choose to take the remains of loved ones home in a special jar and do away with all the hassle plus will dignify death much more then seeing gravediggers tilt coffins nearly vertical to get them underground. I agree one hundred per cent and the sooner this is set in motion the better!
Phil Humphries
Oct 25th 2011, 11:37
The price of dying is artificially high and the government's feet-dragging is keeping the burial cartel's cash cows extremely well fed.
There is a clear need and a growing demand for cremation services and the Government should either set-up a state-run (and profitable) crematorium, or clear the way for the private sector to do so. And if that means upsetting a few 'friends' then so be it; the public's interest is paramount.
Mr Michael Debono
Oct 25th 2011, 11:23
www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2022206,00.html - - Similar pages
Choose Liquidation Over Cremation & Save the Environment Even ...
Aug 30, 2011 ... To combat the environmental impact of cremation (not to mention traditional
burial) ... at a Florida funeral home which dissolves bodies instead of burning
them. The liquidation unit works by using heated alkaline water to dissolve
bodies. ... By placing the body in a solution of water and potassium hydroxide, ...
inhabitat.com/choose-liquidation-over-cremation-save-the-environment-even-in-
This confirms my previous contribution of liquification with water and potassium instead of cremation.
Mr Michael Debono
Oct 25th 2011, 10:53
Cremation is in the way out because it produces C)2. It is being or will be replaced by dissolution in water and potassium bath.
Ramon Casha
Oct 25th 2011, 10:44
Please stop considering and act. Cremation is a logical choice given the lack of available space.
D Castillo
Oct 25th 2011, 10:41
about time too!!!!
Alfred Fenech
Oct 25th 2011, 10:17
About time. It should cust less to die. Coffins should become cheaper too .
Pauline Peterson
Oct 25th 2011, 09:44
Malta will certainly need more grave spaces - the way some people drive.
Peter Murray
Oct 25th 2011, 09:28
It is, and has been for a long time ,a national dsigrace that we have never provided this option of how one wishes to dispose of one's remains,not only to respect a persons personal wishes but to honour and give credence to how other religions burial services or practices.We have had an interrment -only policy for far too long and this space or land restriction as being the only rationale deployed to now consider allowing cremation and provide facilities to perform such a burial service was always going to happen ,but should not have been the sole reason as freedom of choice and respect for other religious beliefs should have been acknowledged and respected as pivotal reasons.Finally.on a more pratical issue consideration , cremations are a much more economical form of disposing of remains than interrment or the buying ,if that is ever possible,of a grave.
Hugh Jampton
Oct 25th 2011, 10:57
@ Peter Murray: Sir you talk of other religious beliefs, but most of them, Muslim and Jew as an example bury their dead and you can bet always will. In Fact Cremation is a relative newcomer to the Christian religion and as archeology has shown even the so called 'pagan' beliefs from before then buried their dead.
In the UK there are now 'green burials' where you are buried and a tree is planted over you..in one place this is happening a new forest is being created. A much more symbolic and lasting legacy to future generations but where relatives can still visit.
Im not a Religious person and each to their own but I do wonder how a cremation would have rolled away the stone in the origins of Chritianity....
Peter Murray
Oct 25th 2011, 19:22
Dear Mr Jampton ,,
You are highly selective in mentioning the beliefs that bury their dead and leave out those(and their are many) that don't believe in interrment.In any event .you failed to address or even mention the crux of my input which revolved around a citizen's fundamental right to freedom of choice and the lesser costs associated with cremation and the total lack of provision by the government to have such a basic option available.Also how did a dead man manage to roll away such a stone and after being officially declared dead for 3 days?
Peter Murray
Oct 25th 2011, 09:27
It is, and has been for a long time ,a national dsigrace that we have never provided this option of how one wishes to dispose of one's remains,not only to respect a persons personal wishes but to honour and give credence to how other religions burial services or practices.We have had an interrment -only policy for far too long and this space or land restriction as being the only rationale deployed to now consider allowing cremation and provide facilities to perform such a burial service was always going to happen ,but should not have been the sole reason as freedom of choice and respect for other religious beliefs should have been acknowledged and respected as pivotal reasons.Finally.on a more pratical issue consideration , cremations are a much more economical form of disposing of remains than interrment or the buying ,if that is ever possible,of a grave.
Paul Barrett
Oct 25th 2011, 08:55
Quote: As Malta’s cemeteries become fuller the Health Ministry is considering the introduction of cremation as part of a policy to tackle the growing lack of burial space. Unquote.
Please hurry up and introduce cremation - time is running out.
Hamish Dempster
Oct 25th 2011, 07:58
A step in the good direction.