Din l-Art Helwa has appealed to the public for any information about the extensive damage caused recently to the Red Tower in Mellieha. It also asked that those who are responsible come forward and cover the cost of the repairs.

The damage to the tower’s stairs was reported by a passer-by to the police, who then alerted DLH.

The tower is currently closed due to health authority restrictions governing museums and sites but the damage has left the access in a dangerous state, the organization said.

The Red Tower has just recently undergone extensive renovation.  “Now with harshly reduced income due to the pandemic, Din l-Art Helwa is asking for donations to make the access stairs safe again and also put right other damage caused at other sites.”

The organization said that, “it is a real shame that after all our hard work, the tower has been damaged by the very people it was built to defend.  We hope that the public can come forward so funds are found for its repair.  This is only one manifestation of the damage sustained by heritage sites from wanton or ignorant acts.”

DLH said its ongoing work to maintain its historic properties in pristine order comes with a huge cost and funds are hard to come by during these times when visitor numbers are nil. 

“There is also a huge amount of illegal dumping of waste carried out close to our sites which is now totally out of control.  We appeal to the authorities to tighten up on monitoring and enforcement to prevent such uncivil behaviour which shows such disrespect to our heritage and destroys our countryside.”

To discover Din l-Art Helwa heritage sites and to assist with donations please visit: https://dinlarthelwa.org/product/donation/

PN MP Robert Cutajar has offered to help fix the damage caused.