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Everyone is criticising the damage that was done to the Mnajdra temples and many people marched on Friday night in protest at it, but still, no one is taking any blame for the tragedy.

Attempts aimed at establishing accountability and responsibility have proved impossible as MaltaToday, and other members of the press have discovered this week.

And the anger of many, but persistent refusal of anyone to take the blame, yesterday prompted ëAlternattiva Demokatika' and ëMoviment ghall-Ambjent' to both call for Education and Culture minister Louis Galea's resignation.

When MaltaToday asked Dr Galea the direct question of who should take ultimate responsibility for the Mnajdra vandalism and what course of action was appropriate in this regard, the answer we received was far from straightforward.

Although admitting that the government and he, as minister, should shoulder different degrees of responsibility, Dr Galea laid the blame squarely with the vandals themselves.

"Let us not shift this responsibility," he said.

When asked who should be held responsible for the Mnajdra vandalism, Dr Galea said the question posed "complex problems".

His only hint that he might, as minister, take personal responsibility for the tragedy was his final statement which was, however, enigmatic, and read: "Coming to terms with this public anguish makes it imperative to do whatever is necessary, with whoever is responsible. I include everyone and exclude no one."

Opposition and former culture minister Evarist Bartolo chose to answer with a biblical analogy, he said: "I will throw the first stoneÖ.at me."

Ray Bondin the Maltese representative on the International Council of Monuments and Sites told MaltaToday that it was a difficult task to begin pointing fingers.

"The vandalism was very bad, but whatever happened, the important thing is to look ahead and at least try to improve our image abroad," he said. "There is much damage to be repaired in this regard; UNESCO are very angry at what has happened."

Speaking after Friday's protest march, President Guido De Marco took the same line as Dr Galea.

Qualifying the statement, however, he added: "There could be some other responsibilities, but those will have to be seen. For now, more than asking where the buck stops, we have to focus on ensuring this doesn't happen again."

Probably due to the fact that the Labour party's short term in government meant he avoided having to taking too much flak for the Mnajdra incident, the former culture minister openly admitted that the security at the temples were inadequate when he had responsibility for them.

"After the vandalistic acts carried out in November 1996, we started taking action to prevent similar acts," Mr Bartolo said.

He highlighted the fact that the Labour government had begun putting up protective fencing, but admitted this had not been enough.

"Human presence is indispensable for an adequate security system," he said.

Mr Bartolo urged the country to move away from the "stupid blame culture which blames everybody and nobody for what happens in our island".

"There are clearly administrative and political responsibilities that must be carried," he said.

Mr Bartolo added that responsibility for heritage management must be shared out between the Education, Environment and Home Affairs ministries.

"This calls for a strong political will and vision," he said. "It needs good policies, appropriate structures and resources and trained persons. All this is lacking at present."