The notarial archives is lobbying for more funds from the Government and the EU to restore thousands of documents detailing some of the most important moments of Malta’s history.
Giving a tour to a government delegation, Joan Abela – a volunteer and a member of the Notarial Archives Resources Council – passionately pleaded with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to allocate the necessary cash as she described the current state of the archives as “a national monument of shame”.
“When we started here a few years ago we had an incredible situation. We were literally walking on documents that date back to the 13th century.
“The testament of Gerolamo Cassar, Dun Mikiel Xerri and other big figures in Maltese history were kept on the floor with no preservation whatsoever. The way we treat our rich history is incredible,” she complained to Dr Muscat who visited the archives in St Christopher Street yesterday.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Ms Abela, who knows the dates of many of the historic documents by heart, said she has been working voluntarily at this ‘treasure’ for years but more funding is needed.
She said a planned €6 million project using EU funds would totally change the situation at the archives, which hold more than 30,000 volumes – the earliest dating back to 1467.
The way we treat our rich history is incredible
“During the past years these archives were not a priority and we had no money.
“All restoration work had to be done through private sponsors and tens of volunteers. We hope the situation changes.”
Ms Abela showed the Prime Minister a document with the Kantilena, the first Maltese poem written by Pietru Caxaro in the 1470s, followed by a 1467 contract on the sale of a Tunisian slave described as “a bag of bones” due to her poor health.
Dr Muscat said it was a pity that the archives had been reduced to this state and promised the Government would do its utmost to find the money to protect this “national treasure”.
If restored, it could be turned into a self-financing operation, he said.
Since 2007 the archives has been sponsored by HSBC, through a scheme enabling staff members to dedicate some of their annual leave days to work there.
“This has been our most successful voluntary scheme,” HSBC’s chief executive officer Mark Watkinson said.
A digitisation process is under way to ensure the documents’ long-term preservation.
The Prime Minister quipped: “I admire Ms Abela’s lobbying tactics. She first invited our wives (Michelle Muscat and the wives of Finance Minister Edward Scicluna and Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici) who on a daily basis pressured us to follow suit. And here we are.”