Government and Opposition agreed that cultural and appreciation for the Maltese national heritage should be a tool that cuts through social exclusion by empowering people and helping them embrace the Maltese identity.

The MPs discussed the Heritage Malta and Superintendence of Cultural Heritage Estimates for 2011, on Tuesday.

Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono said statistics show that the cultural sector is growing and contributing to economy. People have a right to be part of the cultural sector because it is part of their identity, he added.

“Our culture has an international audience which creates particular needs. However, this shouldn’t undermine the Maltese identity. Cultural and historical sites should be accessible to everyone,” Dr Debono continued.

He listed the government’s work in the sector achieved through Heritage Malta and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage; including the construction of a visitors centre and shelters for Haġar Qim and Mnajdra temples, the installation of bells in the clock tower of the maritime museum and better accessibility at the hypogeum among other projects.

“We are duty bound to protect our heritage to leave future generations heritage which is well-preserved,” he concluded.

In Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi’s opinion, the protection of national heritage should be based on three pillars of awareness, government structures and the voluntary sector.

Awareness and education are crucial to make people aware of the how precious our heritage is, Mr Azzopardi said. Until some years ago, the Maltese people were not aware of their heritage until foreigners made us realise how precious it is, he continued.

Regarding government structures, he said that the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage was set up to preserve our history by coordinating work carried out by a number of institutions.

Speaking about the voluntary sector he said that without it the state cannot protect national heritage on its own. NGOs have to work hand in hand with government, he said.

Labour MP Evarist Bartolo said cultural heritage is not just about the past but also about the future.

“In a globalised world it is evermore important for countries to develop their identity that makes them different from other cultures. The Maltese identity is dynamic,” he said.

He criticised the lack of strategic plans for the sector and although there are many small scale projects, there is no holistic vision that ensures all work is in line with a plan.

“Our parliament is weak because it is not autonomous since it is patronised by the executive. I would prefer a live parliament which works in a tent rather than a moribund parliament working in a beautiful building,” Mr Bartolo added.

He is disappointed that at the political level, there is not bona fede from the government’s end, to work with the opposition for the European Capital of Culture which is earmarked for 2018

Speaking about the 2008/2009 state of heritage report, he said that it gives a clear indication of the cultural heritage superintendence’s strengths and weaknesses. “Reports shouldn’t be glossing the reality but should be giving us a picture of how things really are. We need more analytical reports about the entities we evaluate and not just financial reports,” Mr Bartolo went on.

He spoke about socially excluded sectors who till this day do not feel part of the cultural sector. NGOs can do more work in the area, he suggested.

Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Farrugia said it is healthy that civil society partners up with government in taking care of this important sector. He mentioned many churches as examples of historical gems that are in dire need of restoration. As time goes by we will need many more drastic measures to fix the damage they sustain, he said.

“Restoration and maintenance takes a long time, but some do take the initiative to start and voluntarily want to contribute to care for Maltese patrimony,” he said.

Quoting an article penned by this newspaper’s journalist Francesca Vella last February when the government launched the draft of Malta’s cultural policy, he said Malta finally has a cultural policy that is up for discussion, and as Peter Serracino Inglott put it during the launch, it is Malta’s cultural policy, not elephants, that has had the longest gestation period.

“Malta should be proud of its patrimony and we should work hard to attract tourists that value it. When the tourism industry experiences swells in numbers, our heritage sites should do so too,” he said.

“People should be allowed to understand the extent of the European Capital of culture 2018 concept. We have no other option but to make it successful not just by those who are involved, but also but also by positive political will,” Dr Bonnici said.

Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco was glad that MPs are speaking in one voice for Maltese culture.

“Our cutting edge is cultural heritage and not the climate or our beaches. We have a double interest in protecting what our forefathers have left us. In that way we would be protecting the livelihood of future generations,” Dr de Marco said.

The 2018 targets are an important appointment, he said, therefore we need a roadmap to prepare for it. We have to look beyond 2018, not just as a year full of events but as an opportunity to invest more, he said.

“Malta should be proud of its patrimony and we should work hard to attract tourists that value it. When the tourism industry experiences swells in numbers, our heritage sites should do so too.”