The legacy of Valletta 2018 would be the rebirth of Malta’s capital city, culture minister Owen Bonnici said in Parliament on Monday, dismissing claims the project had fallen flat. 

Winding up amendments to the Cultural Heritage Act, Dr Bonnici pointed to MUŻA, the new University Campus Theatre (formerly known as MITP), and the refurbished Tritons fountain as evidence of the real impact that the programme had had on Valletta.

He also waved away concerns over the the use of direct orders by various cultural agencies, arguing that it was impossible to do otherwise when a specific performer needed to be engaged.

The minister was responding after Opposition MP Karl Gouder claimed that after years spent agonizing over how to use Valletta 2018 to instill a greater appreciation for culture amongst the Maltese, this aim had not been reached, and the events of the past year would be forgotten as they had not left anything tangible behind.

Meanwhile, addressing the content of the Cultural Heritage Act amendments, Dr Bonnici insisted the amendments would not, as Opposition MPs had claimed, reduce the power available to the cultural heritage watchdog, but would reduce its duties in order to allow it to focus its resources in a better way.

Dr Bonnici argued that the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had never been more involved. Whereas the Planning Authority had formerly decided which cases to refer to the Superintendent for an opinion, a decision taken by the government years prior had started the referral of all planning applications to his office.

The lack of site monitors was a challenge, but allowing the PA to refer cases would truly involve weakening the Superintendence. It was furthermore untrue that the PA could override the decisions taken by the Superintendence, which had extensive powers to protect Maltese heritage.

He said 13 graduates had been engaged by the Superintendence over a one-year period, more than had been working there in all prior to 2013. 

The minister pledged to take on board a suggestion to reduce the required hours of professional development stipulated by the new amendments in order for the conservation warrant to be retained, should Parliament give its assent.

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