11 historical heritages, ranging from statues, niches, monuments, chapels and historical structures and located in various localities, will be benefiting from restoration through a scheme for local councils.
This scheme was issued by the Restoration Directorate within the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government in consultation with the Strategy and Policy Implementation Directorate within the Division. of Local Government. This is the eighth time since 2015 that the scheme has been issued and 41 localities have benefited from it with 54 projects.
This together with the details of the locations that will benefit and the projects that will be carried out were announced during a news conference by the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici and by the Parliamentary Secretary for Government Local Alison Zerafa Civelli.
Minister Owen Bonnici said that this scheme aims to valorize the historical heritage that is in our communities and that is so dear to the hearts of the families that live in the respective localities. “This Government is committed to continue carrying out initiatives that look after the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of fortifications and historical places on a regular basis by various entities within the Ministry,” explained Minister Owen Bonnici.
Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli said that the preservation of the cultural heritage is a priority both for the Government and for the local councils that play an important role in this regard.
She praised the local councils that brought forward historical sites to be considered for preservation or restoration. “These preservation initiatives on historic sites in the heart of the localities will not only be preserving the cultural heritage for future generations, but will also increase the competitiveness of the Maltese islands in the tourism field,” stated the parliamentary secretary.
The Local Councils that will benefit from this scheme are: Rabat (Malta), Żejtun, Swieqi, Qormi, Mellieħa, Qrendi, Balzan, Tarxien, Birkirkara, the Hamrun and the Imqabba. The projects that will benefit from restoration are: Our Lady of Victory Chapel (Bell Tower) – Birkirkara; Stone Cross – Balzan Town; Manikata Parish Church (Sculptural Feature) – Manikata, Mellieħa; Military Wall – Madliena, Swieqi; Eye of Water behind a niche of Saint Paul – Victoria; the front of the Command Garden – il-Qrendi; two niches – l’Mqabba; the front of the Cemetery of Souls – Tarxien; Zuntier of the St. George Collegiate Church – Qormi; the front of Palazzo Balcas – Hamrun; and the Chapel of Santa Maria tal-Hlas – Żejtun.
Representatives from the Directorate of Restoration and the Directorate for the Implementation of Strategy and Policy, as well as the mayors of the 11 local councils were at this press conference.
