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Private sector shows
no interest in temples
by Ivan Brincat
There is still no interest in a private/public partnership
for the temples at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra.
Although a number of private sector firms have shown an interest
in the management and running of some of Malta’s museums,
Education Minister Louis Galea said that at present there is
no interest at all in Malta’s prehistoric temples.
A proposal by the Department of Museums to turn the area between
Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples into an archaeological park could
be linked to a private/public partnership even though the Ministry
of Education, which is responsible for culture, does not have
a clear idea as to how this partnership can work.
A decision to commercialise the temples would require two considerations
– opening the temples to the masses or else limiting the
number of visitors throughout the day.
An example which has been mentioned in this regard is the Hypogeum
in Tarxien. To visit what is considered Malta’s jewel,
people have to book in advance since only 10 people are allowed
inside the Hypogeum every hour.
There have been complaints from tourists because sometimes booking
has to be made at least a week in advance.
The Hypogeum is however seen to be the perfect example of how
Malta’s heritage sites should be managed. Visitors are
able to see an exhibition, then a multi-media show and afterwards
visit the Hypogeum.
A new law which will replace the 75-year-old Antiquities Protection
act has been drafted and the minister Louis Galea said he will
be in a position to present it to Cabinet for approval in the
coming days.
The new law allows the government to make provisions for the
introduction of private-public partnerships and also to give
non-
government organisations the chance to help in the running of
Malta’s national heritage.
Dr Galea said the new law will create new structures which will
help to regulate the national heritage in a different manner.
“The aim is to have a law which reflects today’s regulation
and
surveillance. It will determine how the quantity would be managed.
We want people to attend these sites and also to be of service
to tourism. We must assess how to offer the possibility for
NGOs and the Private Sector to join in these initiatives by
providing clear guidelines.”
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