The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) is abdicating from its duty to protect Maltese heritage, a statement by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar read.

In a press conference NGOs organized, Xagħra resident Carmen Bayada related how works taking place within the Ta' Verna Temple scheduled site had uncovered burial pits and remains, "however the SCH had denied this until FAA reported it publicly, at which point, the SCH monitor reported these finds which included skulls laid out in a ritual burial. Still, excavations using heavy construction machinery continued, and material that had a high probability of containing archaeological remains was dumped. No information has been provided about the remains on this site which pre-dates Ġgantija by 1,000 years, and the SCH has approved development which will destroy these burial sites, while tomorrow Tuesday, the Planning Authority is to process permits to develop these sites," The FAA statement about the press conference read.

Daniel Cilia of DLH Gozo discussed the application for a large development at tal-Qaċċa site within the Ġgantija buffer zone. The NGO has asked for a heritage assessment to be undertaken before the application is assessed, however the agreements between the Maltese Government and UNESCO re the protection of World Heritage Sites is being completely ignored, the statement read.

Billy McBee Founder President of Residenti Beltin, mentioned the Superintendence's total indifference to the situation in Valletta, where UNESCO's World Heritage Site designation is being used as a marketing tool rather than as a means of protection for Valletta, the FAA statement read. "Due to the authorities 'business first' mindset, Valletta is losing its authenticity and is betraying UNESCO's guidelines for Valletta's Outstanding Universal Value, which stipulate that Valletta needs to remain a living, working city, that upholds the interests of its residents."

Continuing on Valletta, Astrid Vella, Coordinator of FAA, stated that UNESCO "has been demanding an official Buffer Zone from the Maltese Government since 2009, however Government's proposals show the buffer zone running along the waterline so that the promenade can be built up. FAA contested this proposal and UNESCO'S refusal to Government echoed FAA's report to UNESCO." Vella condemned a number of "very damaging applications along the coast facing Valletta".

Perit Patrick Calleja, President of Din l-Art Ħelwa, revealed new information in the Fort Chambray case, stating that in Planning Authority Minute 133 of September 2012, the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee disagreed with the proposal to dismantle the Barracks, saying explicitly that it went against the development brief. This was not made public before the PA recommended approval, the statement read.

Vella referred to the application "to destroy an over 130-year old Rabat/Buskett farmhouse and garden full of protected trees, to build 83 basement garages and 50 housing units. The site is just metres from an archaeological necropolis in front of the farmhouse where 48 tombs were discovered in 1968."

"Photographic evidence shows that some 3 more tombs have been found in recent works to clear the site and destroy all the trees even before any permits are issued."

Vella concluded by saying that "this total lack of transparency or adherence to accepted norms point to the SCH's abdication of its responsibility to protect Malta's precious heritage."