The opening date of the new Parliament is likely to be postponed again despite assurances by Renzo Piano’s office that the building could be functioning by next month.
Following a visit yesterday by a delegation from the parliamentary House Business Committee, no decision was taken on whether MPs would be moving to the new Valletta building in January.
Although the visit was barred to the press, Times of Malta is informed that MPs did not approve the transfer to the new building next month.
“No one from the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation [the government’s agency responsible for the project] was in a position to commit to the January date,” sources close to the meeting told this newspaper. In view of this lack of commitment on behalf of the government agency, it seems that a move following the Easter recess is the most likely option, the sources said.
It turned out they were so close to each other that an MP simply could not rise in his place to address the House
Times of Malta yesterday asked for permission to be present during the visit but Speaker Anġlu Farrugia turned down the request.
Government whip Carmelo Abela agreed with the Speaker while Opposition whip David Agius said he had no objection.
The issue which cropped up in the past weeks – the oversized desks in the chamber – was also discussed by the parliamentary delegation. According to sources, MPs were informed that following their complaints over lack of space between their seats and the new desks, the tables would now be shipped back to Italy to be remodelled.
Representatives of the contractors informed Parliament that the operation should be ready by the end of the year.
On Wednesday, Antonio Belvedere – a partner in Renzo Piano’s Building Workshop, overseeing the project – told this newspaper that MPs could easily move into the new building in January as works are almost over.
He described the controversy over desks as a storm in a teacup created by politicians and insisted there was no problem with the design.
The problem was just an issue related to the comfort requested by MPs and said there was a solution.
Underlining the need for a commitment to move, he said all new buildings have teething troubles during their running-in period. “We have built a modern edifice the likes of which Malta has never seen before. We have invested a lot of energy and time in the project. Instead of seeing stories about how the project is changing Valletta’s entrance, we are discussing desks,” he said.
But the Speaker’s office yesterday rebutted the architect’s comments.
In a statement, the Speaker said that modifications were requested because when the first seats and desks were installed, it turned out they were so close to each other that an MP simply could not rise in his place to address the House.
“This is a requirement which stems out from the Standing Orders of the House,” Dr Farrugia said.
The new Parliament was originally planned to open its doors in November 2012. Two years down the line, there is still no official opening date.