We first learnt of the City Gate project, and we now know that Fort St Elmo is another regeneration project on the checklist. This is a serious stance taken by Lawrence Gonzi’s government, one that was promised and is now being delivered.
Moving away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment, there are other areas around the Maltese Islands that need to be addressed. It is indeed a pity that we sometimes fail to realise the potential that we are blessed with.
Our heritage is something we should all be proud of, and I can assure you that considering our size and population we own an impressive deal.
The government is taking a leading role in this respect, and promises are being kept. This is actively being done not solely by creating awareness, but also by taking action. Actions like the rezoning of the areas near Villa Bologna and the Belvedere Tower in Lija. Conserving areas like those just mentioned, and the many other that exist around the Islands is of utmost importance. The same should be said for the Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs) found in every village.
We must realise that it is not just Valletta that needs to be addressed, but also the three cities and all the Urban Conservation Areas in all villages. These areas are true gems, and it is not just our politicians and NGOs that should take this into account. I do sincerely believe that there needs more public dialogue regarding this matter – this is owned by me and you and we should tackle these issues just as they were our own.
It is crucial that awareness is created and that these matters are discussed with responsibility. It is time to consider the involvement of the private sector in collaboration with the government to conserve our precious heritage, something that has been done recently. Let us embrace our heritage, and together with the government make sure that these unique parts of us will continue to make us proud Maltese citizens.
Now, moving back to our beloved city, I am still thrilled knowing that plans to rebuild the old Opera House and City Gate are underway. As a Belti myself, it was doubly pleasing to see a concrete commitment being made towards the regeneration of our capital city. This fresh push, I believe, will almost definitely prompt a social, economic and cultural revival in Valletta.
A more recent revelation regarded the challenging restoration project for Fort St Elmo in Valletta. This project is estimated to cost over e100 million and was launched by the government as part of the grand harbour regeneration project. This forms part of the government’s vision, and the EU should fund this. It is planned that the upper part would be opened for public manifestations of a cultural and artistic nature and creates a walkway connecting the Mediterranean Conference Centre to Pinto stores. Add to this a hotel as an alternative of the Evans building, re routing the ring road, the construction of a cruise liner terminal, and the rebuilding of the historic lighthouse.
A master plan has been announced, motivated by an appointed steering committee. The government wants to reinstate this fort but convert it into a destination that worked all year round, and this requires a commercial aspect to keep it alive. Perhaps it would require the input of the private sector, working hand in hand with the government. This is an exciting yet challenging project. It has the potential to counterbalance the government’s plans for City Gate. The greatest challenge is without a doubt finding the balance between the commercial and cultural aspect. It is not the fort’s restoration but how it would be used. It is vital that a perfect balance is found between the two aspects, and that there is a structured relationship between the two, so that both benefit. All major stakeholders very well received news of the regeneration of Fort St Elmo. The MHRA in particular stated that this was another step in the right direction, improving Malta’s tourism product.
Enveloped in the aura of these mega projects, I am genuinely excited by the thought of all these ideas becoming a reality within the next four years. And I fully support the belief that these two projects should be treated within the holistic regeneration plan for Valletta and the Grand Harbour. This way, the capital city can truly maintain a delicate balance between being a central attraction for tourists while remaining a social, economic and cultural centre for the Maltese.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP
[email protected]
www.davidcasa.eu