The old theatre site

I have read and reread our mayor's views as carried in The Times (October 19).

I must say outright that I do not agree with Paul Borg Olivier's suggestion that Fort St Elmo be restored and turned into Parliament House.

Restored it should be, by all means, but leave it open to the public, especially tourists, who will be able to better appreciate what St Elmo means to the history of Malta. I also think that the location is not right for Parliament. In my travels I happened to note that many old cities place their Parliament House/s in the very heart of the city, not at the tail end.

Now may I turn your attention to the online poll which laid down that "the majority are opposed to the royal opera house site for Parliament".

First and foremost, I think that a 1,300 people poll is too small a number to pass judgment.

I fully agree with the various suggestions presented about retaining old masonry, keeping the external in harmony with Valletta's architecture etc., etc., but I do not agree that we should build another theatre or cultural hub.

I would ask the people who voted for these last two, how many times have they attended cultural events at the Manoel Theatre or St James Cavalier? My guess would be that more than half have never ventured within these doors! On the contrary, I do. Whenever something catches my fancy and I can afford to pay for the ticket.

Those who cry out "give us back our old theatre" are only being nostalgic. Let me mention some points.

The Manoel Theatre is nearly always one-half or three-quarters empty when some cultural or entertainment activity is on. Unless it is a pantomime or some soirée under the patronage of the President or Prime Minister. Then it is full, with the common patrons paying through their nose to make good for the many VIPs who get their ticket free, even if they can afford to pay for theirs and mine!

I found absurd the suggestion that we should rebuild the opera house and theatre and move Parliament to the Manoel Theatre. Surely he/she and those others that affirm that presently our Parliament is well housed are surely those who think that Parliament is just the space where the members hold their sessions, and the strangers gallery.

This a mistaken concept. There is need to provide rooms for the members, offices attached to the house and many other modern facilities.

Presently the space is less than enough. And the members have been complaining long enough as well. I think as our elected members they deserve better. They should have enough space to enable them to carry out their duties in our best interest. Give me good tools and expect good work.

As for the negative comments passed by one of the readers with regards to architect Richard England, I think he went too far and also that he has never been within the doors of St James Cavalier. Do not get me wrong. I am not a special lover of Prof. England's work and this when it takes a turn to the ultra modern. I also hate monopolies. I believe that we have other good minds among us apart from his. Let us give these minds a chance to emerge.

Finally, let me remind those inclined towards the building of a new theatre/opera house. How much do they think they will have to pay to patronise this theatre? Certainly not a couple of liri but a figure running into the 20s if not more, that is, if we want to make it pay for itself.

One last point which I forgot to mention. If Parliament is moved to a new site, as also the President's Office as has been mentioned, the Palace will be a source of revenue as it will be wholly open to the public and tourists and not in part as it is presently.