|
Government has been trying to give the impression that those of us who have come out against the new areas in our country that can be built upon are making much ado about nothing. Government says that these new areas are a mere 2.4% of our territory and we should not make such a fuss over its decision to extend the building zones that were drawn up 18 years ago.
But looking closer at some of the areas that government has decided should be buried under more buildings, it is clear that the 2.4% is just another statistical lie. The impact on the local communities is going to be much more than 2.4% if government goes ahead with what it is proposing. Take the small hamlet of Manikata for example. Government wants to extend the built up area in Manikata and allow it to double its present size and even link it up with the tourism zone at Ghajn Tuffieha.
This is totally contrary to what the North West Local Plan recommends: “Manikata is a small village surrounded by countryside of high agricultural, landscape and archaeological value… The character of the village is dominated by the serenity and quiet environment created by the low number of residents and compactness of the dwellings, and the very few traffic movements through the streets… (There is a need for) restricting the sprawl of tourism and recreational development from the western side of the village… (and the need to) protect the residential character and amenity of the village and support only those activities which enhance community identity.”
Extend Manikata to double its present size will have a strong negative social and environmental impact on this small community. The zone that government wants to grant building permits on is not a fill-in, it is not accessible through existing roads and is not within the existing ring road.
The new building zone proposed by government includes within it the military camp at Ghajn Tuffieha adjacent to the hotel and spreads to the edge of the cliff. This is sheer madness. We must not allow Manikata to be destroyed.
Maurice de Giorgio
I really enjoyed the hour and a half I spent with Mr Maurice de Giorgio a few Friday mornings ago as he very proudly took me around Palazzo Falsone at Mdina, which is currently undergoing extensive restoration by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. Officially Maurice is the Executive Chairman of this Fondazzjoni. But really he is its body and soul as he commits himself totally in any project he undertakes.
I have been lucky to get to know him in these last 10 years. In 1996 I was appointed Minister for National Culture, which meant that Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti fell under my responsibility. I did not know Maurice before. I do not know what he thought of me then; before he got to know me through the various meetings we had to discuss projects of the Fondazzjoni.
I quickly warmed up to the man. He is soft-spoken and elegant but you quickly realise what a steely determination he has to get things done and to do them excellently. He sets high standards and works hard to reach them and expects those working with him to reach them as well.
He gives a lot of attention to detail and is not satisfied till he gets those details right. “Perfection does not exist,” he tells me rather sadly, “but I try hard to get things done as best as I can.” He is not boastful and says these words in a very matter of fact way. The very high standards he sets also mean that things take longer to get done and although he is getting on in years he has not lost the necessary patience to get things done well, even if they take long and he also looks forward to other projects.
There is still a lot of work to do before Palazzo Falsone is ready to welcome visitors on a regular basis. But when it opens I have no doubt that it can compete with any other heritage site in any part of the world. The work done there under Maurice’s supervision is going to show that even in Malta we can set high standards and achieve them if we really commit ourselves and work hard.
Maurice is a living proof that mediocrity is not part of our genetic make-up but part of our culture that we can change if we really want to. But it will take more than empty rhetoric about the culture of excellence to bring about this much-needed cultural change among us in the way we do things in our country.
Maurice speaks very little. He leads by example. The exhibitions Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti have organised over the years have set new high standards that even others have had to strive towards not to look shabby and dull. As Maurice took me round Palazzo Falsone he told me that he dreams of having another house at Mdina where Fondazzjoni can organize more exhibitions.
As I left Maurice to get on with his work at the Palazzo, apart from being very happy with how the Palazzo is shaping up, I was very glad that at least Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti has not been destroyed by our politicians who excel at appointing cronies in public posts and who then end up making a mess of things, never worried that they will be held accountable. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti has survived well both Nationalist and Labour governments. I have no doubt that Maurice’s quiet leadership and his excellent efforts results in the area of heritage have a lot to do with that.
evaristbartolo@hotmail.com
|
