When Daphne Caruana Galizia writes a whole article (TMIS, 21st March) rubbishing a critic of government policy, it is the surest sign that said critic is being effective. When the rottweiller brigade of Lou Bondi, Peppi Azzopardi and Stephen Calleja join in the attack, it is the surest sign that someone needs the critic silenced.

Tragically, some of our political establishment have become intolerant of debate, which they equate with criticism, even when many, like FAA, have declared themselves in favour of the project but object to the location of Parliament, the restoration of the Old Theatre site and the lack of public consultation in view of the national relevance of the project.

The previous week was not a good week for the Valletta Rehabilitation Project. Instead of boosting its popularity, the Bondi+ programme had exactly the opposite effect by revealing its weaknesses. Architect Konrad Buhagiar admitted that the theatre is only going to cost €8 million out of some €100 million that the Prime Minister recently quoted as being the cost of the project. The bulk of the remaining €92 million will go towards to the Parliament building. Joseph Calleja effectively debunked the claims that the site is too small to be feasible by saying that he has sung in smaller theatres than the Royal Opera House (the Teatro La Fenice in Venice comes to mind). Fr Peter Serracino Inglott – previously adulated by Daphne – is now written off as an impossible dreamer for having the temerity to insist that the theatre needs a roof. Bernard Plattner – Renzo Piano’s associate – went on record saying that a roofed theatre can be built on the site, given the budget. Finally, Renzo Piano himself readily stated that he would agree to alter his plans if public opinion demanded it, leaving viewers in no doubt as to who is resisting change.

Of course this is past history, now that the permit has been approved in a session that will go down in history as being the worst of Mepa manipulations we have yet seen, with a PN politician member of Austin Gatt’s Ministry being allowed to insert his material during Mepa’s supposedly impartial PowerPoint presentation, a move that reduced the hearing to the level of a Xarabank programme. Bernard Plattner, Renzo Piano’s associate, admitted that their studio does not usually wrap up a project like this in under two years (which, in other European countries, is the length of time dedicated to developing a project and presenting it for public consultation). He also emphasised that the Royal Opera House site is not intended as a theatre but as a performance space and piazza. Architect John Ebejer finally admitted that noise and the elements will have an impact on some performances, leaving one wondering whether the millions being spent on electronic stage equipment will be a wise use of public funds.

One of the most important aspects of the project – traffic impact – has been left in abeyance, with the ludicrous proposal of cars entering Valletta through St Mark’s Street still standing. We were also informed that this project, which has been touted as the most ambitious public building project in decades, is too small to require an environment impact assessment – an insult to our intelligence if ever there was one.

In a nutshell, this permit has left the concept of Mepa reform in tatters, taking us back to the bad old days when governments bulldozed its way in implementing whatever tickled its fancy. If ever there was the hope that things really are going to change at Mepa, this session dashed it. Structure Plans, Local Plans, EU Directives on public consultation and Impact Assessments were swept aside in a cavalier (not to say dictatorial) manner, in order to accommodate the Prime Minister’s dream, with no chance of any change or improvement proposed by the public or NGOs, who have repeatedly stated that they only want to see what’s best for the whole of Valletta.

What is even more worrying is that our government, which should be the first to uphold and protect the rule of law in our country, is breaking it flagrantly. How can the rule of law – which lies at the very heart of our constitutional republic and the foundation of our institutions – be seen to be protected when it is government itself that is seen to be brushing aside the laws of the land?

Of course, such considerations are wasted on Daphne Caruana Galizia, as are the basic journalistic ethics of declaring her personal interest as publicist for the Piano project, just as she was the publicist for the Hondoq project, MIDI, Fort Cambridge and the St John’s Cathedral Museum extension.

In an introduction to an architecture conference held at the Diplomat Hotel three years ago, the Prime Minister said that major structures built over the centuries are a statement of their builder’s ego. Never was a truer word said.

Astrid Vella

SLIEMA