I took a look at the plan for the redevelopment of City Gate, Freedom Square and the site of the former Opera House. It is very disappointing. It is strange that despite the great interest expressed by citizens and NGOs for the building of a cultural centre or a new opera house, that this Administration is ready to go ahead and take a great chunk of funds to build a massive bunker on stilts. It is true there are plenty of those around here in Munich, but that doesn't make them any more pretty.

What really takes the biscuit though is the plastic seating and poles projecting from the ground at the site of the former Opera House. It really is enough to bring tears to your eyes. Is this all that could be done to satisfy the wishes of the people? While still shocked and really saddened, there is a ray of light. It is in the shape of a plan designed with much thought and a whole bunch of respect too. It is Giovanni Trevisan's plan for the site of the former Opera House. The wish behind it is to raise from the ruins a cultural site that once more, can attest to Valletta's vigour, the capital of our hearts. Mr Trevisan's design may not suit everyone's style or everyone's idea of a cultural centre but one thing it surely does is to suit the collective sentiment. The plan is for a completed building which can be used for cultural activities all year around. Renzo Piano's design for an unfinished development, on whatever pretext, is a slap in the face to the Maltese public.