Now that Mepa has officially scheduled the ruins of the Royal Opera House, I strongly appeal to the authorities to take a next prudent step. Inside a government compound, just off a main road in Marsa, lie a number of masonry elements belonging to the ruined theatre building. Over a score of fragmented engaged Corinthian capitals and sections of column shafts can be counted. Works would simply involve their careful documentation and transportation to Valletta, placing them on the bases of the columns at the site, in a manner not unlike what can be seen in classical ruins abroad.

The same should be done with the two complete capitals in the grounds of the Mcast school in Corradino. With the planned redevelopment of the complex in the offing these elements should be reinstated to their rightful location. One hears countless stories of people having helped themselves to the masonry and sculpture "stored" in a field in Santa Luċija. Today what remains are discarded mutilated stones while the rest have been carted away or cut off larger stones and fashioned into coffee tables or quaint garden furniture.

I also urge the authorities to take back to Valletta or safely store away what is salvageable of the Santa Luċija remains. Any future project to rebuild the opera house site must inexcusably preserve all that remains of the present ruins as well as include these architectural and sculptural elements. If a faithful replica is opted for, they would be very important for architects and masons to ensure precision in designing new elements. These remains could also be integrated in the reconstruction through a careful anastylosis exercise. If the new edifice is to attain a contemporary design then it ought to respectfully incorporate what remains of the fabric, be it in the new fabric of the structure itself or simply displayed inside.

The whereabouts of other "deposits" of sculpted stonework belonging to the former Royal Opera House should be identified and the masonry retrieved. Who knows perhaps in the process monuments reputed to have been carefully numbered and dismantled in the past such as King's Gate, St Elmo Lighthouse and Fleur-de-Lys Gate might accidentally show up!