A rehabilitation strategy for Valletta

Abstract

Up till the present day, there have been several restoration projects going on in Valletta. The restoration of public and private buildings is a useful exercise. However, one could tend to compare such an exercise to a plastic surgery operation, whereby the physical appearance will be improved but the life span does not necessarily extend. It is useless to restore a building without finding for it a suitable use which can guarantee that at least for the next quarter of a century the building will be in use and properly maintained. It is useless to restore the whole of Valletta, without tackling the emigration problem. On the other hand it is impossible for any Rehabilitation Committee, Local Council or any form of government to tackle this problem without breaking it into smaller issues which could be solved individually.