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Karl Schembri
A petition calling for a wreck amnesty for scuba divers and holders of underwater heritage artefacts that is currently being collected has so far been met with a noncommittal Culture Minister despite the potential benefits that may come out of this initiative.
A group of divers have already collected 500 signatures through a petition they distributed over the internet to be presented to Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech next month.
The initiative was taken by conscientious enthusiasts from the diving community in the wake of police arrests of deep water divers in the last weeks for heritage artefacts they looted from the seabed. They say the majority of Maltese divers who take underwater artefacts from the seabed are mostly genuinely unaware of the illegalities they commit but would be willing to hand over the items to the state if they are promised immunity from prosecution.
The idea has already been endorsed by Heritage Malta chairman Mario Tabone, diving schools and scuba clubs, and greeted for its potential to bring out heritage artefacts recovered from underwater and so far only enjoyed privately.
But when asked for the minister’s position on the call for an amnesty, Zammit Dimech’s spokesman said: “All requests for the granting of an amnesty are, as a matter of course, submitted to Cabinet for consideration. It would not be ethical of a minister to declare before that discussion takes place his own position on the issue. No such request has so far been received by the ministry.”
Matthew Montebello, one of the organisers of the petition, said the group will stick to its deadline and that it intends to instil public awareness and ethical diving among scuba divers.
“The aim of this petition is to protect the artefacts which over the past years have been salvaged from the seabed and now form part of private collections,” Montebello said. “The diving community is now aware that investigations are underway and there is the risk that some antiquities and artefacts may even be destroyed intentionally by their possessor in an effort to avoid being prosecuted.
The petition calls on the Maltese authorities “to grant an amnesty, so as to allow scuba divers or any other persons who have such items in their possession to report them to the authorities.”
While declaring outright that the amnesty would only be given for a definite period, on the same lines of the UK national amnesty given four years ago, which brought out thousands of priceless underwater items for public appreciation, the petition states that the amnesty should not safeguard future persistent offenders under the Cultural Heritage Act.
In September 2002, the government had granted an amnesty for objects found underwater, limited only to items recovered from St Thomas Bay, in a bid to study the theory of St Paul’s shipwreck off the bay. Most of the items returned were exhibited in the Maritime Museum in Birgu.
“In the past, many divers have either ignored or been genuinely unaware of the need to report underwater cultural heritage finds as stipulated in the law,” Montebello said. “This mainly happened because of the laissez-faire from the authorities who never enforced or showed signs of disapproval towards such acts, as well as the lack of divers’ knowledge on the archaeological value and legislation on underwater heritage items.”
If endorsed by the government, the amnesty is expected to encourage divers, fishermen and other finders of wreck discoveries to come forward and report any underwater cultural heritage in their possession.
“The amnesty would be an initiative to increase finders’ knowledge of the legal requirement to report cultural heritage finds and create awareness, that failure to report antiquities carries the risk of prosecution,” Montebello said.
“It will give an opportunity to present illegal holders of finds to come forward before possible action is taken by the authorities to recover items and prosecute holders. Furthermore, the amnesty will also allow the authorities to finally compile a comprehensive register of all recovered goods.
“An amnesty coupled with a commitment from the authorities to acknowledge and exhibit the more historically and archeologically important artefacts recovered, will enrich the awareness of our national heritage treasures. Every generation has the duty to protect this heritage and to make it accessible for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”
The petition can be found online at www.petitiononline.com/malta and at the major scuba diving schools.
kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt
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