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Karl Stagno-Navarra
Senior government Minister Ninu Zammit was humiliated by a security guard who refused him entry into the Hagar Qim prehistoric temples, telling him that he needed “written permission to see the temples”.
The incident happened last Friday night when the Minister – who was hosting a high-ranking Asian delegation at a restaurant nearby – walked to the gate, identified himself, and politely asked the guard to allow him and the delegation access for a few minutes, just for them to see the temples they had read about so much.
The guard – who works for a private company hired by the government agency for heritage – repeatedly refused Ninu Zammit entry, telling him that if he wanted to see the temples after visiting hours he must produce written permission from the same agency.
The Asian delegation – keen to see the temples after a full day of discussions with the minister’s entourage – were kept waiting in the cold seeing the minister being refused entry by the guard who just stood behind the gate with the keys in his hand, insisting that the minister should produce written permission or “call a supervisor”.
The same guard then suggested to the minister that he should call his colleague, another minister who is responsible for the national heritage to grant him permission.
Without argument, the minister turned back, asked the Asian delegation to be patient and understand that the guard did not allow both him and them into the temples.
The minister had no option but to show the temples to the delegation from behind the fence and through the same security guard’s Lada Car that was parked inside the temple perimeter.
ksnavarra@mediatoday.com.mt
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