Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar is surprised that the St. John's Cathedral Foundation should express itself so strongly against public participation in the St. John's Cathedral debate.

By failing to hold a public presentation before submitting the applications, as is the norm when dealing with a project affecting Malta's premier national monument, the Foundation clearly looked upon the public's interest as unwelcome and uncalled-for trespassing on the hallowed grounds of "experts".

Since its inception, FAA has acted democratically as a non-partisan, grassroots group of citizens sharing the concerns for their cultural heritage and the environment. FAA members research and make available to the public information on cultural heritage and the environment which is often not easily accessible, as was the case with the St. John's projects. Far from being based on speculation, FAA's stand on the St. John's case has been arrived at after researching the information available, attending the Foundation's presentation, widespread consultation and studying the MEPA file and plans three times. Just as FAA committee members are not experts in the matter, neither are the members of the Foundation. On this subject FAA is also echoing the views of other entities including MEPA, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the Valletta Local Council and the Church Cultural Heritage Commission.

By preparing communal objections, FAA makes it possible for the public to participate in the planning process, a right established by the EU Directive on public participation as well as the Aarhus Convention which the Foundation is obliged to respect, being partly appointed by the State. Submitting identical objections does not make them any less valid, however the Foundation's dismissal of the voice of the public is downright patronizing and arrogant; a totally inappropriate response coming from an entity that is partly Church-run. It is pertinent to ask whether this attitude has been approved by the Curia and the Archbishop. The over 1,050 who objected to MEPA in record numbers represent all of Maltese society, from the layman to a great many University lecturers and even ambassadors; the Foundation's disdain of their committed objections is an insult to the Maltese public.

FAA reiterates that it will continue to support the Foundation's efforts to extend the Cathedral museum through more viable, less costly and certainly less disruptive alternatives that respect Malta's laws on protection of scheduled monuments. Leading cathedrals of Europe like Cologne, Vienna, Milan, Florence and Siena, not to mention Mdina, have not resorted to excavation but to an off-site museum. FAA maintains that this option deserves serious consideration to house the ancillary collections, offices and restoration workshops, thereby allowing the Foundation more space to exhibit the tapestries within the church complex. On the other hand FAA finds that Foundation's demands for extra space to open a modern art gallery, or, possibly, a cafeteria, do not justify an expansion that is unsustainable, could endanger the cathedral and will certainly cause immense disruption to our capital city.

The Foundation's accusations against FAA and Friends of the Earth amount to violations of the Aarhus Convention on harassment of environmental activists. FAA will continue to defend the public's right to voice itself on planning issues through every means at its disposal, including the Internet. FAA reminds the Foundation that its members derive no personal or professional gain from their NGO work and their only interest is the safety of our monuments, the respect of regulations and the well-being of residents, all of which are jeopardized by these projects.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar

www.ambjentahjar.org