Winemaker part-sponsors Barrakka monuments restoration

George Delicata, managing director of Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker, yesterday presented a sponsorship cheque of Lm500 to Valletta Rehabilitation Project coordinator Ray Bondin for the restoration of monuments at the Upper Barrakka Garden.

Mr Delicata said this was the first sum of money the company intended to give VRP every year. The company holds a wine festival at the garden each summer, drawing thousands of visitors to the garden.

Dr Bondin said the money available for the projects that needed to be done in Valletta fell far below what they had to have.

The government, he said, had already spent a considerable amount at the Upper Barrakka Garden, which is being restored. Over Lm200,000 will be spent on the garden, which is to be closed between November and April.

The garden's Saluting Battery will, however, remain accessible to visitors. Entrance will be through the lower secondary door rather than from the main door of the garden.

The VRP also intends to restore the monuments in the garden.

Estimates by the Malta Tourism Authority show that the Upper Barrakka Garden, where a panoramic view can be had of Grand Harbour and the three cities, is visited by 64 per cent of people who go to Valletta, making it the second most visited site after St John's Co-Cathedral.

Dr Bondin said it was the VRP's intention to reinstall the Valletta lift, which would take visitors from the cruise liner terminal up to the capital.

Talks about the lift were taking place between the promoters of the Connections project and the government.