Some might argue that they don’t like Renzo Piano’s masterpiece, some others might argue that it’s too much for our beautiful city. Some might argue that “we are not yet read” for something of that magnitude while others argue that the contrast is too loud. However I am sure that all of us felt a tinge of pride when we found out that the Government hired one of the world’s finest architects to work on the entrance of our capital city.
This same sentiment cannot be reciprocated by Minister Joe Mizzi. Mizzi seems to be living on a self-imposed high pedestal of morality and culture. All of a sudden he’s an expert on all things that are cultural, he even have the audacity to proclaim that Renzo Piano will no longer be involved past the completion of the new parliament. That means that Mizzi have a free reign to do whatever he pleases with the Valletta ditch. That same ditch was previously meant to be a leading edge, beautiful garden designed by none other than Piano himself. However as things stand, Mizzi decided to cut Piano’s umbilical cord, seek forward with wind in his own sails and let his seeking mind wonder into the abyss of his fruitful imagination as to what he could do with the ditch. I wouldn’t put it past him to do it as a parking area where we can expect someone sitting in a corner on a small stool, wearing a cap, shorts that are 2 sizes too small and a half opened white shirt with a golden necklace as thick as a Gozo Channel chain exposed whilst shouting “Xi ħaga għal-parker hi”.
Unfortunately we live in a country that is always looking at appeasing anyone to the detriment of our own standards. Just this week we found out that 450 years after he defeated the Turks, Grand Master de Valette got defeated in his own backyard because someone managed to have his application for a gabbana tal-festa approved. It’s unbelievable how the authorities deemed it just fine for this permit to be approved. Now we’re going to have someone selling burgers and hot dogs from a gabbana in the middle of Valletta. These things are unheard of in other European cities. You won’t find such an eye sore anywhere in these cities, let alone next to a statue honouring the saviour of the country to which the very same capital city is named after. However this is Malta, in this country if you voted Labour and is now owned a favour all of a sudden everything is possible.
It’s about time that we start calling a spade a spade. This is wrong on so many levels, we can’t allow our city to be raped this way. We can’t allow the work of our forefathers to be tarnished by favouring those on the inner circle. Valletta is Malta’s window to the world. We need to treat it with respect, care and love that it deserves. If we’re willing to sell Valletta’s soul for a favour, I honestly feel worried for the rest of the country.
