Last month Gozo unveiled a marble memorial to commemorate how Vincenzo Bonello, almost single handedly, saved the only Baroque civil building in Gozo from destruction willed by philistine politicians in 1950.
Gozo's Banca Giuratale, a baroque non-religious building had a turbulent history and narrowly escaped demolition in 1950 due to the efforts of Vincenzo Bonello. The elected government of Malta had decided to demolish the Banca to make way for market stalls, a taxi stand, and a war memorial proposed by Bishop Giuseppe Pace. The memorial was to honour Gozitans who died in World War II, and its construction was tied to private interests, including the bishop's nephew, Paolo Pace, and his father-in-law, Italian sculptor Carlo Pisi.
The Banca Giuratale, designed by Charles-François de Mondion in 1733, was the seat of Gozo's municipal government during the time of the Order of St. John. After the British dismantled the jurat system in 1818, the building served various purposes, including a police station, post office, public latrine, and refuse dump. By 1950, it housed the Gozo Civic Committee, but its historical and architectural significance was largely ignored.
The decision to demolish the Banca sparked heated debates in Malta's Parliament. Opposition leader Enrico Mizzi, supported by Vincenzo Bonello, argued passionately against the destruction, emphasizing the building's cultural and historical value. Mizzi accused the government, led by Prime Minister Sir Paul Boffa, of yielding to blackmail from the Gozo Party, whose support was crucial for the government's survival. The Gozo Party and other proponents of demolition claimed it was the will of the Gozitans, but many correspondents and cultural figures opposed the move, highlighting its irreparable damage to Gozo's heritage.
Despite a parliamentary vote approving the demolition, the Banca was spared due to the fall of Boffa's government in June 1950 and the election of Enrico Mizzi as Prime Minister. The war memorial was eventually erected in 1954, but in a different location, allowing the Banca Giuratale to remain intact. Today, the building has been restored and serves as the office of the Victoria local council and mayor, standing as a testament to the efforts of those who fought to preserve it.