It was announced that work is planned to replace defective electrical wiring at St Catherine’s monastery church, Valletta, only weeks after the completion of time-consuming and expensive restoration work on the important decorations by 17th century artist Giuseppi Calì.

One can but reiterate John McEnroe’s memorable Wimbledon expostulation: “You must be joking!”

It is unbelievable that any organisation could consider embarking on such a programme at this time. Whatever happened to long-term, joined-up planning? Surely it is not rocket science, is it? Did the Curia’s architects and experts suddenly realise that the electrics were defective or did they know before the restoration began? One really has to ask who these people are, how much they are paid for their advice and what happens if it is wrong.

However, perhaps this kind of thing is par for the course, when adjacent to St Catherine’s there is to be an Opera House with no roof and a parliamentary building that looks as though it ought to be in Legoland.

My sincere sympathies go out to restoration expert Emmanuel Zammit, who has worked successfully to produce a magnificent result, though I must ask why Madre Mikelina Mifsud has behaved in such a rude and peremptory manner to Mr Zammit, who it seems has every right to express his concerns, having spent a considerable amount of time on the restoration. I can only assume that Madre Mifsud is so used to expecting unquestioning obedience that she finds it difficult to cope with constructive criticism.

Writing as a foreigner, who has a great love and concern for Malta, and has regularly supported events to raise money for the work of restoration at St Catherine’s, I must close with the inimitable words of Victor Meldrew: “I don’t believe it!”