Restoration job speeded up to meet CHOGM deadline

Original plans to complete a two-year upgrading exercise of the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, by 2006 have been revised in order for the work to be ready by November, in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Works include the restoration of both the interior and exterior of the chapel situated along the Sacra Infermeria so that, when completed, this should be a valuable tourist attraction and an alternative venue to accommodate civil marriages, a spokesman for the complex said.

Also, two lifts are being refurbished to be in conformity with EU standards and in line with the "access for all" design guidelines. Other works include the refurbishment of sanitary facilities both on the first floor and backstage and the redecoration of the entrance to Republic Hall.

The government said all logistical requirements in connection with the various activities for the CHOGM meeting are on track.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, who visited the centre to inspect works, said such projects were testimony to the centre's and the ministry's intention to further strengthen Malta's position in the conference and incentive market.

The conference and incentive sector attracts 60,000 visitors a year which, together with 27,000 other visitors who come to Malta for business purposes, give Malta a 0.4 per cent share of the European outbound business market travelling by air.

Dr Zammit Dimech said total expenditure by this segment amounts to Lm27.3 million or six per cent of total tourism expenditure.

Architects from the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure started restoration works on the centre in January 2005. Work in hand includes cleaning, pointing, repair and, where necessary, replacement of the stonework.

A substantial part of the façade is virtually complete while new apertures were fitted by the MCC's carpentry department.

The final part, at the end of the façade, together with the main entrance opposite Evans Building are the last two sections which still need to be repaired and restored.

Complementing the works on the façade will be a reconstruction of the pavement, the lighting of the façade and the resurfacing of the street itself.

Phase two of the project, which commenced last November, is now complete. During the transformation of the dilapidated Sacra Infermeria, the La Valette Hall had been covered with cladding to hide the damage caused during the British period.

Workmen from the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure cleaned, pointed and restored 360 metres of the original wall after the cladding was removed.

The replacement of the 25-year-old air-conditioning system is now under way. The final phase of the La Valette Hall's refurbishment will start this month and is expected to be completed by the end of August. This phase will improve lighting in the hall and will include the polishing of 1,500 square metres of flooring and other upgrading works.