When I read the headline in the Maltastar on Monday, 'Mepa wants Pope John Paul II out of Cittadella', I had to check the date as I thought it was an April fools day prank. Have Mepa lost the plot altogether?

Here is an authority, which is seriously considering a proposal to build a marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien against the wishes of over 80% of the people of Qala. An authority, which had approved a development application for a 23-villa scar on the slopes leading to, the Calypso Caves at Ramla l-Hamra.

An authority who are continuously involved in controversial applications such as Tal-Papa Farm in Birzebbuga, Ta' Cenc, The Mistra nightclub application and the monstrosity at Dwejra.

Mepa state that the two statues create 'a negative visual impact in the square outside the Cathedral. What total rubbish! What sort of visual impact does that thing at Dwejra have on the area? Pope Pius IX was responsible for establishing the Diocese of Gozo in 1864 when the Cittadella church became the Gozo Cathedral. Pope John Paul II is the only Pope ever to have visited Gozo. My question therefore to Mepa is a very simple one. Which two people are more deserving of being represented by statues in their honour outside the Cittadella Cathedral?

One might also ask why no objections were ever raised concerning the cannon, which stood outside the Cathedral before the statues were there. Were they more fitting to a church of God than the statues of two Popes?

By the way, I'm not writing this from the point of view of an upset Catholic. I'm what a very good friend of mine in Malta would describe as an old heathen Protestant! But I had the greatest respect for Pope John Paul II and feel he deserves his place outside the Cittadella. Surely if boathouses at Dwejra can be sanctioned, these two statues can, or are double standards at play here?

James A. Tyrrell,
5 Lower Cairncastle Road,
Larne,
County Antrim,
N. Ireland BT40 1PG

Editors note: The report in the Maltastar mentioned by Mr Tyrrell covered a long running saga which was first reported by us in August 2006.

At that time the Gozo Cathedral suspended an inauguration ceremony for the two statues after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority notified the church's administration that they required a permit.

In a statement at that time, the Gozo Cathedral's administration said "that it believed in the principle of legality and was therefore postponing the inauguration ceremony until the permits are issued."

The outcome of the case is still pending and no permits have been forthcoming.