During the past eight months, the Prime Minister has officially been to Rabat/Mdina three times for the official inauguration of areas which are deemed to form part of our historic sites as well as relaxing venues.
He has been there on various other visits but these three occasions have been of a special nature.
First visit
Last winter, under not so good weather conditions, the Prime Minister inaugurated the revamped Domus Romana – the venue, formerly known as the Roman Villa, had just been totally refurbished and upgraded at a cost nearing Lm180,000. Today, more than ever before, it provides a professional insight into the Roman presence in Malta, which lasted for hundreds of years.
What had before been an amassed array of artifacts without serious management and presentation has been re-arranged into a permanent exhibition providing the best possible results as has been repeatedly stated by both locals and tourists.
In actual fact, one can say that visitors to the said Domus Romana have substantially increased in number. Even primary and secondary school students are now being taken around the Domus to enhance their historical appreciation of our culture. Heritage Malta and the Tourism Ministry addressed this project well and the results are there for all to appreciate.
Second visit
A couple of months ago, Prime Minister Gonzi was once again in Mdina. This time, in the square overlooking most of the northern and eastern sides of Malta. We assisted to the inauguration of the re-vamping of the Mdina streets. The exercise cost some Lm600,000 and the total expense, which is being directed towards the upgrading and re-establishment of the Old Silent City, could well top Lm1 million.
Today one can walk through this city without overhanging wires, with streets returned to their former glory, practically without traffic save for local residents and with lights set up to give maximum effect to the architecture that adorns the place.
I strongly recommend a walk through Mdina on to the ramparts further in from the Carmelite Church on a Saturday evening or more so on 14 August when the splendor of the fireworks coming from the different village festivities offer an incomparable sight which surpasses many more famed foreign sites/places with panoramic views.
The works here were carried out by the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry.
Third visit
Last Monday witnessed the inauguration by the Prime Minister of a rejuvenated Howard Gardens.
Lying within the “buffer” zone between Mdina and Rabat and spread over an area of over 18,000 square metres, these gardens have been upgraded, repaved and re-vitalised. One can safely say that the state of the gardens today is even better than that of their heyday when locals from both Rabat and Mdina took their families for a walk in the gardens on Sunday mornings or in the evenings.
Those present at the inauguration could see that the project was appreciated by the locals. Most of the newly installed benches were occupied with different generations of local people enjoying the soft breeze in this friendly environment.
The cost this time has exceeded Lm300,000. This time the works were carried out under the auspices of the Tourism Ministry. Thanks is also due to the Mdina local council members who were there, day in and day out, overseeing and helping out in every possible way.
These three projects have been co-financed by the European Union. The EU forked out 75 per cent of the cost, amounting to more than Lm800,000. This is equivalent more than 50 per cent of the total amount which, according to the Opposition Leader, Malta would have benefited from joining the EU. This is a far cry from the truth.
The real contribution towards Malta by 2013 will be more in the range of plus e1 billion, rather than Lm1.5 million.
One lingering eyesore
We, the locals of Rabat and Mdina, appreciate all the above and are thankful for the efforts which have been undertaken by the central government, the various ministries, Heritage Malta and the Rehabilitation Programme chaired by Ray Bondin. However, there is still one eyesore still in place.
This eyesore hits every local and tourist straight in the face every time one walks across Howard Gardens towards the Domus Romana (if coming from Mdina) or from St Paul’s Street, Zondadari Street, or Museum Road if one approaches the area from Rabat.
Known to us as “Ix-Xaghra ta’ Kola”, this mass of land just opposite Wagons Street when facing east, the Domus Romana when facing south and Howard Gardens when facing north/west, is the local eyesore. To those not familiar with the area, it is rock filled; disorganised site in front of what years ago was the Rabat vegetable market (pitkali).
Notwithstanding many pleas by MPs from both sides of the House and by the residents, the eyesore remains. Dust in summer in all the residences together with a crudely built hut on the side have become a nightmare for all of the people in the area.
Today this is used as a parking area, rubble and trash collection area as well as that every so often it becomes the venue for a bumping cars arcade.
It is stated that underneath the said open space, there is another Roman Villa, which by archeological standards could be of more importance than the Domus Romana. If only the excavations could take place! Some years back some field work had been carried out but this was minimal. Both Noel Farrugia and myself (being the local MPs) have repeatedly suggested that this should be a project for which EU funds should be applied for.
In the meantime there is a temporary solution to this eyesore – low cost but effective. A six-inch layer of inert chippings zrar plus an overlying cold asphalt layer would mean that whatever may lie underneath is protected and at the same time provide decent and clean parking in an area where the parking problem increases by the day.
And the residents near by, the people of Rabat and of Mdina would be forever thankful. We could even have a joint PN/MLP RabatFest to celebrate the end of an era.
So please!
Tony Abela is parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister