The City Gate and Opera House site projects, together with other projects planned for the regeneration of our capital city by the government are definitely important for Valletta to truly reflect its status as a World Heritage site.

This shows the government’s strong commitment to give back to the city the dignity it so much deserves.

We have been discussing the need of these two projects and other regeneration projects in Valletta, for years on end. Unfortunately though, due to controversy, nostalgia, personal and hidden agendas, wishful thinking and unrealistic wishes, even though in good faith, have ever since managed to halt such projects from being executed. An opinion should be an informed and qualified opinion and not just a mere idea that creates controversy.

I sincerely believe that we have lost enough precious time trying to decide what type of entrance our capital city should have and what use should be made of the opera house site. Now we cannot miss this opportunity for Valletta to have a dignified entrance, which encourages one and all to explore this gem of a city, which we as a nation have good reason to be proud of.

The direct involvement of the world famous architect Renzo Piano in these two projects, will add to the cultural and architectural value and the tourism product of our capital city and the country as a whole. This has happened in every city where Renzo Piano was commissioned to draw up designs for a particular project or another. I don’t see why this could not also be the case for Valletta.

While we are waiting to see in detail the designs Renzo Piano proposes for our capital city in the coming weeks, I have no doubt that these two projects, together with the regeneration of Fort St Elmo, the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour areas, and the use of the Grand Master’s Palace for purely cultural use, should find the support of those who truly have the city of Valletta close to their heart.

These two projects will also contribute to a better quality of life, primarily for the residents of Valletta, but also for the general public and the enhancement of our tourism product.

It is good to have a consultation process about these projects; it is also good to evaluate and consider everything that is being said. However, what is most important is that no one and nothing should once again halt these projects from being implemented for the benefit of our beautiful capital city.

It is most unfortunate that since the St John’s Co-Cathedral museum extension project was abandoned, we already have organisations, including the PL and individuals who are calling on the government to drop the project of a new parliament building and a cultural centre on the opera house site because it is being opposed by the majority of the Maltese people, or so they claim.

This is flawed reasoning. The two projects are totally distinct; in the St John’s case we were dealing with a massive intervention in a national monument that is and has been functioning quite well and attracting thousands of visitors, and which could well have risked damaging it, while the site of the former Royal Opera House is just a monument to destruction, dereliction and shame, which urgently needs to be put to use for the benefit of our capital city and the whole country. Therefore, a new Parliament and a Cultural Centre as proposed, meets the exigencies of the country at the moment. Conveniently, those opposing it are forgetting that it also includes a Cultural Centre and not only a House of Parliament, as they seem to be giving that impression.

Besides, there is nothing wrong in having the highest institutions of this country housed in such a prime site in the capital, as is usually the case in every country. After all, Parliament and a Cultural Centre symbolises our liberty, democracy and identity.

Such a cultural centre in such a prime site could very well serve to exhibit the works of Caravaggio in Malta and his connection with the island, which will be a unique cultural attraction and purely local. This will not only be an attraction for foreign visitors and enhance our tourism product, but also for us, the people of Malta and Gozo. With a national theatre we will be offering our visitors what they can easily find all over the world, mostly those few famous international theatres, which already dominate the market, such as Covent Garden and others.

Culture does not only mean theatre. Culture is celebrated in many different ways, not just opera as those who are opposing the project would have us believe. Besides it is well known that it is not only the government that is maintaining that the footprint of the former Royal Opera House, is not large enough to have a multi-functional theatre which can accommodate a fully-fledged opera and other theatrical shows. This is also confirmed by two Maltese architects of high standing, one of whom submitted a design for the site 20 years ago.

In separate contributions to the local press, they stated as much, while one of them also said that to build such a theatre we would have to expand onto Ordinance Street and Freedom Square. So why do some people keep on insisting that we can and should build such a theatre instead of being realistic. I honestly cannot understand their arguments.

I am sure that as a nation, we will never manage to come to a unanimous agreement regarding the implementation of these projects, as we have never done in any other project. But the most important thing should be that the design presented by Renzo Piano would be one that respects Valletta’s historic, cultural and architectural value and reflects the practical exigencies of today’s culture and architecture. In other words, these projects should be a bridge between the past, present and future of our capital city and our country.

After all, every new project should represent and leave its mark on the history and culture of the times during which the projects are carried out, and that of the generation that made the project happen. This is what happens all over the world.

True, we should be proud of our past and cherish it because it gives us our identity, but it is also true that it is our duty to look to the present and, more so, it is our duty to look forward, towards the future not only of our capital city but also of our country.

Valletta as a capital city, and Malta as a whole, has to compete with other cities and countries in Europe and around the world to attract tourism. Cities and countries that all have their own historical value, but which evolved over the years in parallel with the times and became popular destinations and sought after for their history, culture and architecture. Therefore Valletta, and Malta, needs to have quality infrastructure that makes better and practical use of the limited space to enhance their tourism value.

I do not see the point of having new projects copy what we had tens of years ago. This country has evolved and is still evolving, from a colony to Independence to a Republic to being a member State of the European Union. This is what the regeneration projects of our capital city should represent.

At a time when the world is passing through financial and economic times, the e70 million investment by the government in the City Gate and opera house site projects, together with other regeneration projects that are being planned for the city, will no doubt be a stimulus and an advantage to our economy.

The generally positive reactions from various bodies and individuals who welcomed these projects and the commitment of the government towards the regeneration plan of Valletta, not least from the Valletta local council shall not be ignored because of what I call, an unofficial lobby group against the proposed new Parliament building together with a cultural centre, something which this unofficial lobby group is conveniently ignoring and are only talking about the new Parliament.

Crusades will lead us nowhere. Each and every one of us should reason things out sensibly, responsibly and maturely, not emotionally. We should first and foremost see what is really in the best interest of Valletta in today’s world and look for practical solutions.

I am convinced that if we manage to have a proper and mature consultation process when Renzo Piano presents his plans, we will not continue dreaming of a regeneration plan for Valletta, but make it happen for the benefit of our capital city, for Malta and for us all.

Mr Spiteri is deputy mayor of Valletta