New cars have to pass the crash test to be allowed on the market. The Piano plans for Valletta are currently undergoing a crash test of their own kind even though the final say will be among the 69 parliamentarians, men and few women of the post 9/11era, witnesses of the present financial and economic crisis.

For our parliamentarians, security is very high on the agenda. Viewing the plans for the new Parliament from this angle, one cannot but conclude that these plans have taken the security of our future representatives fully into consideration. The planned building is not only protected through its own massive closed fronts. It is also flanked by the bastions and St James Cavalier with the latter shedding maximum cover to the main open parts and to the entrance courtyard of the building. Thus it would be extremely difficult to detect when MPs are coming and leaving. In case MPs are beleaguered, an emergency exit connects the building to the underground tunnel while the roof platform could also be reinforced to allow a helicopter landing.

The entrance to Valletta has been narrowed. People entering the city would have no time to admire the entrance and the fortified parliament building since they would have to get on especially in the bustling morning hours. Freedom square had to disappear in this security concept. One cannot ensure the security of such a building with a square in front of, or adjacent to it, where people could gather and possibly organise mass protests. In such an eventuality, police would not find it difficult to block the new entrance to the city and reroute the masses altogether. Through his plans the architect has already ‘blocked’ the traffic above the present gate. Traffic at this junction would have presented a major hazard to parliament building.

The only open space left is within the ruins of the old opera house. But this will be constructed in such a way that its limited access could be stopped at any time. No doubt, the new parliament building will surely pass this crash test. Parliamentarians will tell us that it is a forward looking building. The opposite is the case. It looks back and is accessed from its backyard. It does not really face the people while it occupies one of the last open spaces in Valletta.

Agnes Debono

Kercem