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‘Unanimous’ decision names Peter Andre Valletta Cultural Ambassador
Former British chart-topper Peter Andre, who had visited the island to perform during the Malta Music Awards and the Malta Song for Europe semi-final, is named Cultural Ambassador to Valletta.
8 February 2013, 12:00am
Teodor Reljic
Teodor Reljic
2 min read
Peter Andre (centre) visits Mater Dei Hospital, accompanied by Health Minister Joe Cassar and his girlfriend Emily MacDonagh. Photo: Martin Attard/DOI.
British pop singer Peter Andre, who had catapulted to world fame following the release of his single Mysterious Girl in 1995, was named Cultural Ambassador to Valletta following his visit to Malta this month.
News of Andre's nomination only surfaced after local Facebook users began sharing a report from the UK celebrity gossip website Reveal.co.uk, with some users expressing bafflement as to why Andre - a singer more famous in recent years for his high-profile on-off romance with British tabloid-magnet Katie 'Jordan' Price, than for any achievements in music - was chosen to represent Valletta.
Asked about the nomination, Valletta Mayor Alexiei Dingli revealed that the nomination does not have a particularly strict set of criteria, explaining that, in order to 'qualify' as an ambassador for Valletta, a person has to be: "a celebrity, fond of Valletta, and someone who will help in the promotion of Valletta abroad".
Dingli added that Andre was chosen "by the Valletta Local Council during its last council meeting on the 29 January, and it was a unanimous decision of the council".
Asked whether the nomination would be of direct benefit to Valletta, Dingli said "yes, definitely.
"Valletta will feature prominently in his show on iTV which has an average viewership of 1.7 million viewers and a peak viewership of 1.9 million viewers. An additional 300,000 viewers watch reruns of his show.
"Apart from this, I can reveal that Peter promised to come again to Valletta this coming summer where we will be discussing potential future collaborations."
Dingli also deemed Andre to be an adequate celebrity to represent Valletta, citing the fact that Valletta's nomination as European Capital for Culture in 2018 promotes a wide-ranging sweep of the definition of culture: "from high culture to pop culture and even particular niches".
However, when contacted for comment, Edward Bonello, the press officer for the V.18 Foundation denied any involvement with the decision to appoint Peter Andre as Cultural Ambassador.
"The nomination has no relation to V.18," Bonello said.
Teodor Reljić was born in Belgrade, Serbia and raised in Malta. He writes fiction across ...
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joseph calleja kien ikun ambaxxatur bi sens
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Mhux minnu li kienet decizjoni ta kunsill kollu. Din kienet decizjoni li hadha is-sindku wahdu. Kull ma gara kien li is-sindku stess qall li inomina lil Peter andre ghal ammbaxxatur tal belt valletta ghal kultura. Ma kien hemm l-ebda vot fuq din id-decizjoni.
Ray Azzopardi
Minority Leader
Valletta LC
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Third rate pop singers rule, OK?
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Did Mr Andre contribute for the funding of the PN electoral campaign? Or did he become a Tesserat with the PN?
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JOE CASSAR HOW FUNNY YOU ARE!! REALLY DID WE NEED A FOREIGN SINGER TO FILL IN THE POST OF A CULTURAL AMBASSADOR WHY NOT CALLEJA HE IS MORE FAMOUS AND A MALTESE NATIONAL HOWS THAT?OR YOU SHOULD HAVE WAITED TILL AFTER THE COMING ELECTIONS WHEN GONZI WILL BE BACK WALKING THE STREETS OF VALLETTA HE KNOWS A FEW GOOD SONGS, AFTER MANAGING TO GET MALTA 1.2BILLION EUROS SURELY HE IS ABLE TO TURN THAT MONEY INTO TURIST, WELL DONE FOR GIVING THE MALTESE YOUR BACK,
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Issoltu taghna, nilghaqu !
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Even Right Said Fred would be better.
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Possibli mill-popolazzjoni kollha ta' Malta w Għawdex, ma setgħux isibu persuna addatta b'ċittadinanza Maltija????? Ara ma jifilħux jaqgħu aktar għan-n**k ta' GonziPN/Busuttil! Min ħareġ din il-proposta ħaqqu'Ġieh ir-Republika', għax veru kien oriġinali u bla sens!!!!! Insomma dan żgur mhux se jkun ambaxxatur f'ismi, u naħseb l'anqas f'isem ħafna oħrajn!!!! X'laqgħiżmu sfaċċat!!!
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sew qal FRANCO DEBONO, ghadkhom ma xbajtux id-dahqu in-nies ghal erba voti
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Unanimous decision by whom exactly? Does this include any artists' association? Does it include consultation with the investors and stake holders pertaining to V18?
How about the opinion of the Teatru Manoel management Committee and the board at St James' Cavalier Centre of Creativity, did they advise on this major decision? Were Madonna or Brad Pitt, who worked and toiled at their art in Valletta, considered for this nomination. Was the ministry of Culture which will be footing a percentage of the bill involved in this stupid decision? When will this dictatorial political arrogance stop?
Isabelle Borg •
His ex Jordan would have been a better asset as an ambassador.
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Cultural ambassador to Valletta? Very weird choice guys!
Luke Camilleri •
Dan min jahbat?
X'ghandhu kulturali????
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Peter Andre and CULTURE? Sorry, it just don't sound right!
