Over the past few years, efforts have been stepped up to protect the many heritage sites that we have in Malta. Last week, restoration work on the Ggantija Temples, on the outskirts of Xaghra, was completed. The project was made possible thanks to financing through the European Union’s Solidarity Funds.

The temples had suffered considerable damage during the heavy rain in September 2003 and a section of the temples’ outer wall had collapsed. Thanks to the dedicated work of numerous professionals, the fallen stones have been put back in place and the wall rebuilt. The project cost Lm36,000.

The good news that the temples in Ggantija had been repaired came just days after vandals struck again at Portes des Bombes in Floriana. It was the second attack on the historic monument this year, or the third if one considers the attack on the bastions near the gate a few days before.

The painting of graffiti and similar acts of vandalism on historic monuments must be condemned and no stone should be left unturned to bring the perpetrators to book.

While restoration work such as that carried out on the Ggantija Temples is to be commended, much more needs to be done to protect the many other archaeological treasures that dot the islands. Malta and Gozo should be proud of what they have to offer in this regard – to both locals and tourists – and these important sites must receive the attention they deserve.

Let us make one thing clear: the efforts made by Heritage Malta over the past years are to be applauded. The manner in which the Domus Romana in Rabat has been brought back to its original beauty is a perfect example of a job well done.

Yet there are other important sites that have been badly damaged by the elements and are in urgent need of attention. For example, work on the planned heritage park for Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, which will include a multi-purpose hall, has not yet begun, even though it is scheduled for completion by early 2008.

These old structures need to be protected sooner rather than later, because the more time that passes, the greater the risk that irreparable damage will be caused. These archaeological sites need to be covered – and there are plans to do this – without wasting more time. The tents that will be constructed should blend in well with the environment and at the same time offer the necessary protection to these priceless monuments.

A similar idea has worked well in other countries where tents have been erected to protect archaeological remains. The only problem is that things move faster elsewhere than they do here.

There are also plans to build visitors’ centres at both the Tarxien Temples and the Ggantija Temples. Again, matters seem to be taking rather a long time. These amenities would make the sites more user-friendly and even attract more visitors.

The recruitment of watchmen to take care of these historic structures, and in some cases the installation of CCTV cameras, have proved to be a deterrent to vandals.

This exercise should, however, be extended to cover all monuments of national importance. Everyone agrees that it is impossible to have someone at each and every monument but it is not that difficult to install CCTV cameras and have 24-hour surveillance. It would be the less costly alternative. Setting up a central monitoring centre might also be a good idea.

Many local councils have spent thousands of liri to install speed cameras to detect traffic infringements. It would be a good idea if cameras are also installed near monuments of national importance to catch those who have no respect for their fellow citizens and their country’s rich history.