FAA calls for free vote on St. John's Co-Cathedral

Flimkien għal-Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) replies to Mons. Calleja’s statement on the public input for the Environment Impact Assessment, saying that the process is already flawed.

Mons. Calleja repeats that the Project Description Statement (project outline) is available from the Valletta Local Council when he knows that the Council had no copies for the public. Important plans were omitted from the print version, while the whole PDS is very sketchy, giving no indications of emergency exits, sanitary facilities or plant and equipment. The public cannot make informed submission without knowing where air-conditioners, large underground generators or air ducts are to be positioned in historic St. John's Square.

More importantly, the Project Description Statement lacks the geological studies of rock bedding-planes which would indicate the stability of rock near the Cathedral. If these are unfavourable, they would immediately indicate that the project has to be reduced drastically or is not feasible. That is why the studies should have been done at this stage, to save a possible waste of up to €120,000 of Foundation (i.e. taxpayer) money and more in MEPA costs.

The whole Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is undermined by the Foundation’s refusal to consider alternative sites which is a fundamental role of an EIA. The EIA is paid for by the Foundation, so it is therefore hardly likely to give this aspect its due importance.

The St John’s Foundation bases its congestion arguments on the misconception that once the underground museum is built, tourists will opt to see the tapestries instead of entering the Cathedral. Who can imagine that faced with a choice, tourists will opt to view tapestries, chalices and vestments rather than the glorious Cathedral and the Caravaggio paintings?

If the Foundation is doing everything in the interests of the Cathedral, why is it not immediately implementing the proposed "visitors’ route within and around St John’s that would allow all its wonders to be seen in comfort while limiting the period of time spent within the church itself"

Regarding the "Major heritage and cultural NGOs who have not taken a stand against the project" Only one heritage NGO is conspicuous by its absence in condemning this project while the list of entities that have declared themselves against this project include: FAA, Friends of the Earth, MEPA Heritage Advisory Board, Valletta Rehabilitation Committee, Valletta Local Council, GRTU and, most important of all, the Church Commission for Cultural Heritage which oversees all heritage matters within churches.

FAA invites the public to make its voice heard by signing the petition at www.faa.org.mt and reiterates that all politicians have a duty to speak if they feel that the processing of this project is irregular or if, as MEPA has already stated, it risks the stability of St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar asks for a Free Vote on this project in Parliament so that all can vote according to their conscience. Surely Malta’s most precious church deserves no less.

25.01.09