Jason’s brew is bad
“Whether he likes it or not, the plaintiff (Jason Azzopardi) must carry the political responsibility for that which took place under his watch.”
This week Mr. Justice Anthony Ellul rejected an appeal filed by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi against a decision in a defamation case he had instituted against me over allegations that he had favoured a PN benefactor in the sale of the Lowenbrau brewery whilst occupying government office.
Rejecting the appeal, the court said that “Those holding political office must be prepared to be subjected to harsh criticism, said the court. All that took place between March 2011 – when Azzopardi ordered legal action to take place and 5 June 2012, when the compromise contract was published, took place when Azzopardi was Parliamentary Secretary and Minister responsible for Government Lands. “Whether he likes it or not, the plaintiff must carry the political responsibility for that which took place under his watch.””
This comes after the Court of Magistrates had already dismissed the case in January 2019.
Recalling the day when Azzopardi had filed libel proceedings against me, he had stated that what I had said was an “invented lie” and emphasised that it was all a “lie from start to finish”, continuing that I had to answer for these “lies” in court.
The court decisions have turned the table, and now, Azzopardi has quite a lot to answer for.
I reiterate what I had said, that there is only one honourable way for the Nationalist Party that of distancing itself once and for all from this dishonest “politician”. The ball is in the Opposition Leader’s court – incidentally also the shadow minister for Good Governance!
Politics and democracy in our country deserve better than people like Jason Azzopardi. Sixteen years after the enactment of the Act on Cultural Heritage and after holding several public consultations, parliament has now enacted amendments to the Act – reflecting today’s realities and challenges being faced by the cultural heritage sector, due to the local environment in the sector as well as the realities taking place outside our shores.
Aims of the amendments are also that of better regulating the conservation-restoration profession and other cultural service providers and to provide with respect to underwater cultural heritage - amendments to enhance it, and upgrade it to fit contemporary needs, mostly changes to cater for the modern society. These include the operational aspect to strengthen changes brought about by new laws and to give more relevance to our country’s Cultural Heritage.
I am sure that the amendment that stands out is that concerning the regularisation of warrants for operators in restoration and conservation.
Most of the amendments are intended to provide a higher standard in the conservation and restoration profession. This will lead to the professional safeguarding of this sector of our Cultural Heritage.
Another important change in this act is the inclusion of underwater cultural heritage, which the 2002 act did not specifically provide for. Amendments include the detailing of responsibilities to various institutions and entities. These include the need of reporting any underwater finds; the issuing of permits by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage for the exploration and recovery of wrecks; the SCH will be entrusted to establish protection zones with a specific emphasis on the protection of underwater cultural heritage and the need of having permits for recovering, conserving and exhibiting our culture which to date is hidden underwater.
The amendments also provide for a clearer distinction between the SCH and Heritage Malta, brought about by the common mistake of confusing the responsibilities of these two entities by the public.
A National register will also be set up for all entities and NGOs that operate in the Cultural Heritage sector, which will be a reference for services which can be directed to the entities registered.
The amendments also include provisions so that the regulator and the operative aspect can work in a better environment.
This sector is an important one not only for our country, but also for all of us. Striving to enhance all that pertains to it is of the utmost importance.
The amendments to the existing act are meant to safeguard our rich Cultural Heritage. I announced another restoration project this week - that on the Capuchins’ Priory Belfry in Kalkara – works being done by the Ministry’s Restoration Directorate.
I strongly believe that it is of the utmost importance that we strengthen our local heritage and by restoring our patrimony, we are doing that. Not only do heritage buildings such as the Capuchin Church in Kalkara carry historical significance, but they also have an aesthetic and artistic value.
The Restoration Directorate is truly doing its utmost to safeguard our local heritage, through numerous restoration projects all around the island. Such initiatives help in the restoration of local historic buildings and monuments to their former glory, to be appreciated and enjoyed by our society.
Restoration includes the stonework of the belfry and also the four clock faces.
The friary and church were completed in 1743 by the Capuchin friars. The church, containing six altars, was blessed and opened in the same year, and consecrated by Bishop Paul Alferan in 1747. The belfry is a later addition to the left of the church and was built in a simple classical style. The size of the stone blocks used in fact differ from the ones used for the church and the structure uses steel beams of the kind used from the 19th century onwards. The central section houses the clockwork internally and four mechanical clock faces on each face outside.
Restoration works are to be completed in 5 months’ time, with an investment of €67,435.