Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) expressed surprise yesterday at what it said was the way the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation came out so strongly against public participation in the current debate over the proposed extension of the museum at St John's.

Reacting to a statement issued by the foundation yesterday, FAA said: "By failing to hold a public presentation before submitting the applications, as is the norm when dealing with a project affecting the country's premier national monument, the foundation looked upon the public's interest as unwelcome and uncalled-for, trespassing on the hallowed grounds of 'experts'."

Far from being based on speculation, the stand adopted by the FAA was arrived at after researching the information available, attending the foundation's presentation, widespread consultation and study of the file at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa), it said.

"Just as FAA committee members are not experts in the matter, neither are the members of the foundation.

"FAA is echoing the views of other entities including Mepa, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the Valletta Local Council and the Church Cultural Heritage Commission."

Public participation in the planning process is a right established by an EU Directive as well as the Aarhus Convention which the foundation is obliged to respect, being partly appointed by the state, the FAA said.

"Submitting identical objections does not make them any less valid, but the foundation's dismissal of the voice of the public is downright patronising and arrogant; a totally inappropriate response from an entity that is partly Church-run.

"It is pertinent to ask whether this attitude was approved by the Curia and the Archbishop. The over 1,050 people who objected to Mepa in record numbers represent society, from the layman to a great many university lecturers and even ambassadors. The foundation's disdain of these committed objections is an insult to the public," it said.

www.ambjentahjar.org