The revival of Valletta

I was thrilled to hear the Prime Minister announce his plans to rebuild the old Opera House and City Gate last Monday. As a Belti myself, it was doubly pleasing to see a concrete commitment being made towards the regeneration of our capital city. This fresh push, I believe, will almost definitely prompt a social, economic and cultural revival in Valletta.

Not that Valletta was dead in the first place, but which capital city introduces itself to the curious visitor in the form of a bus garage (read terminus)? Just picture the entrance shot by shot. On your right an ensemble of idle drivers washing their trakkijiet and discussing the latest political storm. On your left, and to the right as well, a shabby outfit of unkempt kiosks, most of which sell the same items.

Wandering ahead, and trying hard to maintain an untainted impression of Valletta, it's almost shocking to stop at the first square of our capital city, which is nothing more than... a parking lot. Oh, and a ruined Opera House, which has been waiting for decades to be rebuilt.

So before actually discussing the function and design of what will be replacing the old Opera House, let us at least agree that the status quo is untenable.

Seeing that we seem to be agreeing on this point, opened are the floodgates of suggestions and opinions as to what should replace the present (or past) set-up. Some commentators argue that the old Opera House should be restored to its former glory, representing the cultural hub that Valletta should be. Others argue that a new building can be erected in the form of a cultural and commercial focal point, with the central argument being that it should primarily serve the people's needs.

I fully agree that the new building should primarily serve the people's needs, but this is where I join a third group of individuals who believe that the rehabilitated site should house the Maltese Parliament and an assortment of cultural initiatives such as a political museum and spaces for people to express themselves.

Moving Parliament to the old Opera House site would be positive for a number of reasons. Firstly, I honestly believe that our MPs have outlived their welcome at the President's Palace. The Palace should be given the breathing space and dignity it deserves.

While our MPs are undoubtedly grateful for the hospitality they were afforded at the President's Palace they must be yearning to settle down in a more permanent place. And let's hope that home will include the facilities they require; an equipped library and study quarters, decent working areas to carry out their duties and responsibilities, meeting centres where to have focus groups and meetings with experts, conference facilities to deliver talks, policy positions and whatnot. And a decent cafeteria to meet constituents and co-workers. Honestly, sometimes I pity my Maltese colleagues when I compare their resources to what members of the European Parliament are treated to in Brussels.

Moving the House of Representatives to the entrance of Valletta, as well as linking it to a cultural hub, could serve a third and crucial end. By allowing the same building to become a centre for expression of the citizen, through individual and collective efforts (in the case of civil society, organisations and entities), Maltese democracy can truly take another leap forward. For what greater message can we give than by providing a platform for ideas and values at the entrance of our capital city, where such ideas emerge from the dreams of ordinary citizens and their representatives alike?

So I am genuinely excited by the thought of all these ideas becoming a reality within the next four years. And I fully support the belief that these two projects should be treated within the holistic regeneration plan for Valletta and the Grand Harbour. This way, the capital city can truly maintain a delicate balance between being a central attraction for tourists while remaining a social, economic and cultural centre for the Maltese.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

www.davidcasa.eu, david@davidcasa.eu