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James Debono
The Cultural Superint-endence, who as Malta’s heritage watchdog has “to fulfil the duties of the State in ensuring the protection and accessibility of Malta’s cultural heritage,” is seriously understaffed with just an active staff of ten people.
An organisational review commissioned by the Tourism and Culture Minister and carried out by the Management and Efficiency Unit has confirmed the Superintendence requires more staff to conduct its mission.
According to the ministry, this report was a first step to initiate “an urgently needed capacity building exercise” at the Superintendence, which is expected to start in the coming weeks.
The Superintendent himself, Anthony Pace, is currently on study leave, reading for a PhD at Cambridge University. In his absence, Nathaniel Cutajar, who also serves as curator for archaeology, is the acting superintendent.
His study leave was endorsed by the culture ministry as it was believed his research could be of direct benefit to his position.
Just a few weeks ago, the Superintendence was in the news for failing to respond to a request by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority on a consultation on a proposed extension of the Hilton hotel in St Julians, which will be encroaching on a historical wall commissioned by Grand Master Pinto back in 1770.
The Superintendence, which advises MEPA on planning permission on developments which concern cultural heritage, has told MaltaToday the erection of a block of apartments by the Hilton hotel just 1.3 metres away from the historical wall “would not be directly impinging on the physical integrity of the architectural features on the site.”
But sources attribute the Superintendence’s silence to its shortage of staff, which is incapacitating this organisation.
The Superintendence currently employs, apart from its acting Superintendent, an assistant, a curator, a principal and their assistant, two technical officers, a security officer and a messenger.
The staff of ten are responsible for conducting all scientific investigation regarding cultural assets, fieldwork and archaeological excavation, both terrestrial and underwater. They establish policy, standards and guidelines related to cultural heritage and its regulation.
The Superintendence is also entrusted with the role of evaluating art objects, objects of cultural value and the collections of such items, as well as the monitoring and control of the import and export of cultural goods.
In April MaltaToday had alerted the Superintendence on the illegal trading of ancient Mesopotamian artefacts looted from Baghdad’s national museum from Malta via the internet auction website eBay.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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