The first Maltese Legislative Assembly used to meet in the Palace in Valletta in a hall graciously lent by the English Governor. Later on, the Maltese Parliament made use of a new hall in this same building. Now, the government has decided to construct a new Parliament in a square formerly used as a car park. This decision attracted a lot of flak.

This criticism was mainly made because it was felt that the funds could have been better used to subsidise the already subsidised water and electricity bills, increasing pensions, precarious wages (a new word for me), etc.

I cannot understand this outdated colonial attitude. There isn’t one single country that does not have its own parliamentary building. Much bigger countries went so far as to build new cities like Brasilia, Ottawa, Washington DC, Canberra, Wellington etc., with the Parliament House being the main focus of such towns.

Another criticism is levelled at the reconstruction of the breakwater bridge, a bridge built more than 100 years ago and destroyed during the last war. Is there any breakwater in the world which is not connected to the nearest land? A bridge leading to nowhere is the epithet used.

Fortunately, the EU is heavily subsidising the restoration of the bastions in Valletta, Mdina, Fort St Angelo, Ċittadella, etc. It would be difficult for any government to raise funds for such projects. After all, money is better spent to reduce electricity rates, increase wages, perhaps subsidise baby milk, etc.

What a circus!

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