25 April 2007 Rating 7% No Comment  

Speaking at a press conference in Xlendi, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that the state of neglect of national treasures to be found in Gozo is a matter for grave concern. "The ancient watch tower at Xlendi is about to collapse due to long standing neglect. If the Ministry for Gozo has not been able to secure the emergency repairs necessary for this national treasure,�then one is easily entitled to predict that it will not be able to address the disaster of its collapse which will cause much more damage than already exists. This tower which is the hallmark of this small seaside village will disappear for ever" Dr Vassallo said. "Instead of investing public funds in the upgrade of Rundle Gardens in Victoria, which can be easily postponed, the Ministry for Gozo should be able to recognise the emergency staring it in the face and act now to avoid the much larger expense which will be necessary following the collapse of Xlendi Tower" Dr Vassallo said. "In recent years there have been excellent examples given by NGOs such as Wirt Ghawdex which restored the tower at Mgarr ix-Xini and by Nadur Local Council which restored the Isopu Tower" Dr Vassallo said. " The restoration of Xlendi Tower is now a national emergency and the Ministry for Gozo should have no difficulty securing the funds necessary from the government if it decides to take action" Dr Vassallo added. "The present state of the tower warrants immediate action regardless of any lease granted by government. It is clear that the present state of neglect fully justifies the cancellation of any lease granted and the return to government of the tower in full and free possession. Such a national treasure should be maintained in such a way that it can be safely used and enjoyed by the public" Dr Vassallo said. "Nor should any development application in the immediate vicinity of the tower be countenanced. We fully expect the Ministry for Gozo to insist on the scheduling not only of the ancient tower itself but also of the surrounding landscape which is an essential part of the aesthetic and historical value to be safeguarded" Dr Vassallo said. "The context of major architectural heritage assets such as Xlendi Tower is of the greatest importance and should support the requests of site neighbours for sensitive treatment in any public works in the area" Dr Vassallo said. "Any changes to public areas in the vicinity should not have any negative impact on the area and no public funds should be wasted in unnecessary embellishments of roads, walls or terraces which are not needed by the public nor wanted by Xlendi residents" Dr Vassallo said "It would be indeed ironic if public money were to be spent in unnecessary embellishments of viewing platforms from which one would be able to view only the ruins of Xlendi Tower due to its imminent collapse" Dr Vassallo said. "Alternattiva Demokratika calls on the Ministry for Gozo to get its priorities right and to ensure that public money is immediately invested to secure the national treasures to be found in Gozo such as the Xlendi Tower for all Maltese and Gozitans and for future generations whose heritage is given to us in trust" Dr Vassallo said.