A Heritage Action Plan for the Maltese Islands

As a result of meetings held between the Minister of Education and National Culture, the Hon. Evarist Bartolo, and the Head of the Cultural Heritage Division of the Council of Europe, Mr. Jose' Maria Ballester, the Council of Europe has been asked to launch a Specific Action Plan for the conservation and management of Cultural Heritage in Malta.

The Specific Action Plan provides mainly for the establishment of an operational framework to provide technical assistance for the conservation and management of the Maltese national heritage. The pertinent authorities would be expected to hold political and technical consultations aimed at arriving at the common policies for the country's sustainable social and economic developments.

In September 1997, various organisations, institutions and government departments were invited to submit their respective policies, proposals, and suggestions for new projects, as well as their views on a future legislation on cultural heritage. This was undertaken with a view to preparing for the series of workshops. All responses received were unanimous in welcoming this initiative, while the majority of issues that were raised were primarily concerned with conservation and preservation of the national heritage.

These workshops are intended to form the basis of a national debate on heritage management. In order to focus on issues according to different interest groups, three workshops are being held, namely amongst :-

1. representatives of Government departments, organisations and institutions whose immediate concerns are directly related to the cultural heritage of the Maltese Islands; such concerns as housing, tourism, the rehabilitation of historic centres, planning and development all have some bearing on heritage.
2. representatives of national museums, libraries & archives, the University of Malta and non-governmental organisations, all with an important role in cultural heritage, because together they act as repositories of information, art and archaeological objects as well as other forms of documentation about our past. In particular, museums and non-governmental organisations have the added role of conservation, guardianship and presentation.
3. representatives of local councils, with a role in heritage management on a regional basis, especially guardianship and presentation.

The presentations made during the workshops will focus on current issues, while participants will have the opportunity to share views, concerns and ideas. With these workshops it is planned to arrive at a heritage Action Plan that will address the role of all participants with an interest in the Maltese cultural heritage.

In his introductory speech, Minister Bartolo said that this meeting was a dream come true. There is a lot of good will all around but not enough coordination between the parties concerned. There is an urgent need for key players to work together and a lot to do by all sectors concerned. The need for this coordination thus becomes imperative. Malta is blessed with a lot of heritage but cursed with a lack of resources. We therefore need to optimise these resources in a national manner.

The workshops being organised over the next few days will help to create a National Heritage Plan for Malta and Gozo.

Minister Bartolo thanked the organisers, especially Mr. Jose' Maria Ballester, Head of the Cultural Heritage Division of the Council of Europe, for their untiring efforts in this field.