During a press conference given by the Archbishop’s Curia CEO, Michael Pace Ross and the Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds, Aaron Farrugia (February 2) it was stated that the Balzan parish church is among the beneficiaries of EU funds for restoration and preservation work.

This is only one side of the coin and I think the readers of the Times of Malta should be informed about the other side too.

The programme of the restoration and preservation of the church was scheduled to proceed in eight phases. Two phases have already been completed and paid for by the Balzan parish community and other benefactors. Work on the third phase is being undertaken thanks to EU funds. When this phase is eventually completed, approximately half of the whole project will still have to be undertaken, naturally funded by the Balzan community and other benefactors.

At this stage, it should be noted that between 2010 and 2018 the parish community and other benefactors donated more than €118,000 towards the project. This apart from substantial voluntary work being undertaken by technical and other professional members of the community. Such voluntary work would cost thousands of euros if it were to be paid for.

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