I congratulate the government on its decision, through the genius of Renzo Piano, to develop the former Royal Opera House site and City Gate which has remained a gaping hole for the past 65 years, having been destroyed partly by the German Luftwaffe and the rest by the Mintoff Administration which pulled down most of the remaining parts.

I am amazed that Gozo, which has a population of less than 30,000, can boast of two opera theatres that each seat about 1,400. What a band club can do I am sure the government can do likewise. Egypt, which is a much poorer country than Malta, quickly reconstructed its opera house when it was gutted by fire while the same has been done in other European cities.

An influential British newspaper once stated that one of the reasons that tourists are attracted to London is that there are so many theatres. If Malta wants to fill its numerous five-star hotels with up-market tourism, it must provide theatre entertainment, as Paceville only caters for youngsters and not the well-to-do mature tourist; the Opera House would also be a cultural boon for the Maltese who have been starved of opera, operettas and classical music. Moreover, the multiplier effect of a big theatre will give work not only to musicians but also to artists, painters, tailors, hairdressers, taxis, etc.

What Valletta needs most is cultural entertainment and not another shopping complex of which there are more than enough. Any shopkeeper will tell you that business in Valletta is very slack because it becomes a ghost city after 7 p.m. when shops close. A theatre cum arts centre will revive Valletta with people coming to town; as regards the car park one can widen the former railway tunnel which starts from Porte de Bombes and cars could come in directly to the theatre.

As one who has commented in detail on the Grand Harbour Development Plan, its strategy with regard to Valletta's rehabilitation had to be in keeping with the city as a focus of cultural and social life. Malta's capital has to be more conductive to creating a national monument of a high standard, both for our tourist industry and the present and future Maltese generations. A large theatre would surely generate evening activities to give a new lease of life to Valletta rather than the proposed gallery of shops which pull down their shutters after commercial hours.

The "Piano" project which will cost us €80 million and will take several years to be completed. The reconstruction of the theatre should be given priority and works should start forthwith. A retractable roof as suggested by world tenor Joseph Calleja should be used. And as suggested by a former PL minister (Lino Spiteri) and Architect Richard England, the government could move to the Main Guard area. Parliament meets only 10 hours per week for nine months of the year. This idea will save millions of euros and leave Freedom Square and shops as they are today.

Problems must be taken into consideration.