The Story and Controversy Surrounding The Opera House Bomb Site in Valletta

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These pages are the archive of our previous campaign to restore theatre to the Opera House bomb site in Valletta (2008 - 2009). Theatre is now being restored and the current website is following developments in Malta's capital city - Main Current Website Here 'Previously' Cover Page The Basics About This Website About The Opera House Bomb Site Your Words News Media Updates Current Action Questions, Questions A New Valletta (from Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar) Links and Contacts The Small Print Listen to Lawrence Open Letter to Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta also ... The Prime Minister’s decision for a new Parliament house Joseph Muscat - Mosta, Malta "I appeal to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to change course and forget Parliament House, and instead build an Opera House that will be the pride of the Maltese nation". Facebook Group: No to House of Parliament instead of Opera House (Malta) The Proposal - Parliament to move to Opera House - PM calls for national pride in City Gate project (source: Din l-Art Ħelwa, National Trust of Malta)   © maltaoperhouse.com 2009 We welcome your input and ideas Website devised by Ian Waugh (link)

 

 

Current Action

At the beginning of December 2008 Malta's Prime Minister, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, announced that the 66 year old Opera House bomb site at the entrance to Valletta will be transformed into the new home for Parliament.

After generations of on / off debate and pondering over the future of the most visible World War Two bomb site in Europe it seems that the dreams of a great many people are sadly being dashed.

The current issue, the one we feel so very strongly about is the choice of the site for Malta's first dedicated Parliamentary building.

The choice of the design of the eventual building (modernist, traditional, faithful reconstruction) is not currently our concern.

Equally we aren't necessarily questioning the fact that Parliament should have a new building or location. That also is another debate entirely and one very much for the Maltese.

We support the strength of feeling by thousands of Maltese who are unhappy at the decision to locate the Parliamentary building on a place designated to the arts, theatre and culture. A site that was lovingly patronised as a place of theatre before it was reduced to rubble by the then enemies of Malta and free Europe. 

Everybody knows this as "the Opera House bomb site". It's location is iconic at the entrance to Malta's beautiful capital city, Valletta. Reconstruction is well overdue. Many say the overall redevelopment of City Gate is equally late and in need of urgent work.

Today ...

There has been phenomenal support of the Facebook Group: No to House of Parliament instead of Opera House (Malta) (link). This is where many Maltese and foreigners have joined, expressed their views, debated and placed suggestions and ideas. To-date more than 2,500 are now members and we urge you to join them.

The press in Malta have published stories surrounding the proposals and debate. Most articles online have been followed by strong reaction.

This website was formed out of the overwhelming feeling that on this question and 'decision' Malta's Prime Minister is wrong to assume that his people back him over this. Here we are getting a great many 'original hits' from within Malta and crucially for us way beyond. From across Europe, USA, Australia, Asia and the Russian Federation. Visitors to Malta (tourists, property seekers and business people) flock to these Mediterranean islands each year. Many come to see the country, experience the culture and enjoy the weather and facilities. This debate is not going unnoticed.

With so much support for our pressure on Dr. Gonzi to do a tiny U-turn on this issue ... this page will keep you posted on the next steps and how you can help.