Several archaeological artefacts, including eight rock-hewn tombs, Bronze Age silos, Roman and medieval remains, 15 grain silos, cart ruts and 11 Roman tombs were discovered last year during works monitored by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
Speaking during the debate on the 2016 estimates of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici remarked that monitoring cases handled by the Superintendence in 2015 had increased markedly compared to the previous year – 223 cases in 2015, against the 150 cases of 2014.
Over the same period, the Superintendence received 1,131 consultation requests, an increase of 208 over the previous year.
More than 74 per cent of the consultations originated from Mepa’s planning directorate, 159 requests were Transport Malta consultations for road work permits, and another 102 requests came from third parties, including NGOs.
It was envisaged that following the recent demerger of Mepa, these consultations would increase to 4,000 next year. A recruitment process was under way to meet this challenge.
Dr Bonnici lamented that the Superintendence is mentioned with politically loaded issues such as the Castille lighting, but no one mentions the precious and vast work it carries out
Dr Bonnici lamented that while the Superintendence is mentioned with politically loaded issues such as the Castille façade’s lighting, no one mentions the precious and vast work it carries out throughout the year.
Dr Bonnici also remarked how 2015 was an exceptional year for Heritage Malta. In addition to the inauguration of four major EU co-funded infrastructural projects worth €40 million, an international exhibition to commemorate the 450 anniversary of the Great Siege was organised by the agency.
Last year, Heritage Malta hosted four exhibitions, organised or participated in another 32 exhibitions and was involved in 125 events.
The national heritage agency managed to register a record 1.1 million visitors and generated €9 million revenue from its operations, the third annual increase in a row.
Culture Opposition spokesman Karl Gouder remarked that educational visits for children at heritage sites had declined by 25 per cent last year and recommended remedial measures.
Both sides of the House thanked the employees serving with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, Heritage Malta and the Restoration Unit.