The (new) Prime Minister of Malta hailed the under signed as a “symbol of national unity” for the Maltese people. Indeed I have always tried, within reason, to steer clear from anything that can divide opinions in our very polarized Malta.

Of course there were exceptions and one of these exceptions came up a couple of years ago when the previous government announced the (then) new plans for Valletta. I actively and immediately opposed the decision to build a new parliament versus a multi – purpose concert theatre which the country so desperately needs. Don’t get me wrong. I am not stating that having a parliament is not important, of course it is. However, weren’t the historical sites of Fort St Elmo or the MCC suitable enough venues and spectacular to boot? Both could easily accommodate parliament with minor adjustments and at a fraction of the cost spent on the new parliament. Or so the various leading Maltese architects told me. Can anyone really state, hand on heart, that the building of a multi – purpose theatre in the entrance of Valletta wouldn’t pump much needed air in our oxygen starved cultural scene? Imagine a fully functional new theatre in upper Valletta and a parliament in lower Valletta! That is what I call tackling the regeneration of Valletta at both ends…

As much as Barry’s design was beautiful the old theatre site, unfortunately, isn’t big enough for our modern requirements. A larger footprint is needed to accommodate a bigger backstage area so that the theatre would need to be able to host musicals, opera, vocal symphonic concerts, conferences, poker tournaments, ballet, theatre, pantomimes, private events and even boxing matches if necessary! Flexibility is the only way an eventual “theatre” can come close to be commercially viable and not be yet another burden on tax payers. Of course I guess nothing is in the way to adapt Barry’s outside architecture to a bigger footprint…

There is a huge PR opportunity for Malta waiting to be exploited here. The “rebuilding” of our theatre would no doubt generate huge interest by the major European media and beyond. The theatre was destroyed during one of more 3000 (!) air raids Malta suffered between 1940 and 1942 our island being one of the most intensively bombed countries in WW2!

This government has now a huge opportunity to give back to the Maltese people their cultural identity something every single administration failed to do for the last 71 years!