The pro-Life monument, now erected on a roundabout, has so far shared a life with that which it symbolises – an unwanted baby.

Gift of Life director Paul Vincenti told The Malta Independent on Sunday that the monument had been presented to the Sliema local council in 2004. However, the council did not accept it, saying that there was no place for such a monument in Sliema.

The movement had then proposed this monument to Mosta local council, which accepted. The 21 September Avenue roundabout had been chosen by the Mosta council as the site for the monument.

But very recently, the Mosta – Naxxar boundaries were redrawn and the monument has now found itself in Naxxar, where the local council, although it had nothing to do with its siting, has accepted it. The Naxxar local council had been informed about this change, Naxxar local council executive secretary Paul Gatt told this newspaper, and had raised no objections.

Former Mosta mayor Joe Demartino said that permission for the erection of the monument had been granted because it is a non-governmental organisation, just like any other.

Mr Demartino also pointed out that when the Malta Gay Rights Movement had asked permission to hold their meetings in Mosta Council Hall, the Mosta local council had found no objection to this as “the local council believes in people’s causes” as long as these are not too extreme.

Mr Gatt said that any activity held by a non-governmental organisation was not an issue for the council. He also said that as long as these activities were not related to political parties in Malta, there was no need to have any qualms about them.

Asked whether a public consultation with the residents of 21 September Avenue had been held by either council to ascertain if they were in favour of the pro-life monument being sited there, both Mr Demartino and Mr Gatt said that, in their opinion, there had been no need for such a consultation.