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)

 

 

Dr Lawrence Gonzi KUOM, LLD, MP
Prime Minister
Republic of Malta

Tuesday, 9th December, 2008

Dear Dr. Gonzi,

We, the people who visit your beautiful country every year as tourists, investors and business persons would like your valuable attention for just a matter of minutes.

This is regarding your proposal to convert the bombed out Opera House site in your capital city, Valletta, into your new Parliamentary building and not into a place of theatre, popular entertainment and dedicated Maltese arts and culture.

There are thousands of your citizens in Malta and a great many non-Maltese and Maltese living outside your country who are quite dismayed at your decision regarding this matter.

We were wondering why you want to place your Parliament in such a strange and prominent position when your predecessors and ancestors delighted at the previous iconic building for theatre which stood so famously on this site?

Our position is that we hold no view of you or your political party or any other in Malta. So, please, rest assured that this is nothing to do with local politics in Malta but a question of cultural and popular principle. So this is not questioning your party or supporting another. In case you thought this was some clandestine political dig from the Left - because it is not.

We all know that City Gate and the immediate area is in urgent overdue need of redevelopment. The plans look interesting and exciting. Who designs the finals is not our concern, but obviously we hope that whatever happens looks fantastic and is pleasing for your citizens and the visitors to your country.

Our only issue is the actual use of the Opera House site itself.

We appeal to you to reconsider your vision to place your Parliamentary premises on this prominent site and allow this property to be used for its original purpose, that of theatre and entertainment.

A small U-turn on this issue will delight thousands of your voters in Malta and delight the many thousands of foreigners who come to your stunning and interesting country every year.

You would please a great many people if you at least do us the honour to acknowledge us and assure us you will give this matter your serious reconsideration.

We are writing to you publically here in the hope you see this request.

Thank you, Prime Minister, for your time

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Yours sincerely,

Ian Waugh
Representing many fellow Europeans who appreciate Malta, its culture and the Maltese
Please reply to: info@maltaoperahouse.com