By the expression putting the cart before the horse, I am not referring to the three-legged horse that was placed at the entrance of our capital city, and which has since been removed. This bronze equestrian statue was installed in preparation for the big day when Valletta, in 2018, becomes the European Capital of Culture.

In the meantime, our Prime Minister saw fit to find time, in 2014, to inaugurate Prospettiva, a contemporary artistic installation-cum-monument which, we are told, was erected to commemorate Valletta have been chosen as European Capital of Culture for the year 2018.

I have a problem with the semantic of words, such as monument and commemoration. The government's media was cautious here and spoke only in terms of a Prospettiva, presumably borrowing its semantic meaning from the Italian "Prospettiva" rather than the English word "Perspective". Both words derive from the Latin word "prospectiva".

However, I would like to turn to two Latin words; "monumentum" (monument) and commemoratio (commemoration). Usually monuments are erected to commemorate an event that has taken place and was so significant as to warrant a commemoration. The same applies to individuals who, in one way or another have contributed significantly to humanity.  In this case, we are tapping ourselves on the back for something, which has not yet taken place. 2018 is roughly 4 years away.  

The Government is not so confident that the preparations for this event are on the right track. The controversy about the appointment of a new Artistic Director is a clear indication of the emerging doubts about the success of this venture and whether things will be delivered on time. At the same time, Government is hiding all these uncertainties by putting up a media screen of an over confident image, which is not only presumptuous and yes, I dare say, arrogant. In reality, the artistic community is anxiously waiting to see what are the concrete plans of this Administration for Valletta. The Culture Ministry needs to start delivering and should stop procrastinating. 

One hopes that this Prospettiva does not bring bad omen to the V18 event. The Romans believed in omens and commemorating the 'dead' while still alive (or in this case, not even being born) does not augur well. It is a bad omen.

So far, despite good intentions, Valletta still needs a general refit.  Its main streets are still in an appalling condition and there has been hardly an attempt to improve them. When it rains not even modern cars can go up St Christopher Street!  As for both secondary and side streets, one is ashamed to even mention them because they are an eyesore: some are even dangerous to pedestrians for lack of proper upkeep.  Over the years we have become so complacent to have accepted this condition. We have accepted this as the norm for our capital city, which at the end of the day should make us proud.

But what is surprising, is that the aptly named Prospettiva was delivered on time, within budget and the work carried out by Government employees - pity that the same efficiency, zeal and management competence has not been applied to put Valletta to rights once and for all. Is it too much to hope for?