Some weeks ago it was announced that the Government had decided that the much publicized Valletta Entrance was, at least for the moment, being shelved. This project, after being originally launched as an architectural competition, had already been withdrawn some years back, but had been reincarnated under the different guise of 'public-private partnership' less than two years ago, with great publicity accorded to it.

It is to be recalled that this Project was one of the most fancied projects by this Government as it would have given a meaning to the island's capital city, as well as a new face to the miserable Valletta entrance, including the rebuilding of the Opera House site, other commercial outlets and a huge underlying car park. There were also intentions of incorportating a new underground bus terminus, as indeed was a commendable inititiative.

However, what really stands out in this recent declaration is the nonchalant manner in which such an announcement was made, which would no do justice to a cancellation of a darts competition, let alone a multi-million lira project of this nature.

As expected, several constituted bodies quickly reacted to such a decision, having naturally been solicited to do so by the companies which had been working on putting together such a complex proposal. The main thrust behind this protest is that it is grossly unfair for Government, or anyone for that matter, to publicly float such a prestigious project with great fanfare, and then to withdraw its interest when it decides to do so, without as much as an attempt for an honourable way out.

Do the authorities who dream up these projects and who then encourage private enterprises to prepare fully detailed proposals, appreciate the enormous amount of work and the expense which any serious promoter has to incur to submit a project worth investing in? Any decent submission for such a project as the Valletta Entrance Project is bound to involve hundreds of intensive hours work for architects, engineers, designers, financial experts, potential investors, cost planners, all working together to achieve the best architectural solution in a sustainable development. The consortia behind any proposal for such projects normally foot all the costs incurred until submission of their project, on the sole calculated risk basis that their proposal would not be considered the best. The risk that the Government could change its collective mind on the project when most of the proposal has been determined, is not, and should not, be normally taken into consideration.

It is certainly not a healthy environment within which to promote private investment, especially now that public-private partnership is the keyword!

History has an uncanny knack for repeating itself, and if one were to look back a few years, one would come across the Maltacom Millenium Project, which was targeted to revamp Paceville, and which again was launched at a great do in 1995. Unfortunately after two serious Consortia consisting of local and foreign expertise and financiers had submitted full presentation drawings, Business Plans, models, etc. at Castille Palace in August 1996, the new Government, for reasons it never made public, decided to ignore, and eventually shelve the project. No consideration of the submitted works (which are still gathering dust in some office at Castille) was ever made, or was any form of redress offered to the two groups who had spent hundreds of thousnds in Malta Liri in their submissions. This was most dishearting and gave the impression to the foreign participants of a 'banana republic' country, which could not in future be taken seriously.

After these unfortunate events it is obvious that unless those who launch such projects in the future publicly commit themsleves that, should the project be abandoned, some sort of retribution of the costs incurred by promoters would be made, then it will be a futile exercise to dream about any more such projects, since recent memories will be difficult to erase!


Edgar A. Rossignaud B.Arch., A.& C.E.

[Arkati Home]