Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512734
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 DECEMBER 2023 2 INDEPENDENT politician Arnold Cassola is calling on the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage to stop construction works by the dB Group at the former ITS building in Pembroke, over fears that the works are compromising a network of cisterns dug over a century ago. Cassola reported the works to the Super- intendence for Cultural Heritage, and pre- sented four photos of the works near the cistern. "These cisterns, which form an important part of our history and heritage, used to provide a year's supply of second class rain water, utilised also for irrigation purposes, for use by the Institute of Tourism Studies itself," Cassola said. "These cisterns had been restored by for- mer staff of the ITS, after having obtained permission from the authorities. These civ- il servants had dedicated their free time for this labour of love towards our historical heritage." He posted photos and videos on social media of the works happening in the area, with the roof of one cistern already broken. However, dB group said that some of the site's cisterns are scheduled for demolition, while others are not. "The dB Group is meticulously abiding by the permit approved by the Planning Au- thority in 2021 and has breached none of the conditions." The Group said Cassola's claims of crim- inal acts are libellous, false and malicious – but Cassola hit out against the Group's own counter-claims. "The dB Group is lying," he said. "They are not allowed to touch Cisterns 1 and 2 and they can only carefully dismantle a part of Cistern 3. Instead, they bulldozed cistern 3 and broke the roof of cistern 2." Planning Authority permit PA/3807/17 states that Reservoir 1 shall be retained and integrated within the approved project ar- eas, while Reservoir 2 shall be retained in its entirety and integrated with the project basement levels. Reservoir 3 could be dismantled as it had already been severely impacted during past redevelopments. The dB Group insisted that Reservoir 3 is scheduled for demolition, while Reser- voir 2 would found partially damaged. "In the approved method statement, there is a proviso saying that: "A thorough inspec- tion of the structure will also be conducted and should some damages be unearthed, these will be repaired." Any damages to the reservoir shall be repaired in line with the approved SCH method statement. Every action taken is covered with the clearance of the SCH." NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt A photo of the construction works with a visible cistern (Photo: Arnold Cassola) Cassola reports dB works in Pembroke to cultural heritage watchdog dB group insists all works are in line with the planning permit, which allows for the removal of the third reservoir CONTINUATION FROM PAGE 1 Nonetheless, this represents a 3-point decrease in support for removing the two coins since 2021 and a 1-point increase since last year. Only 37% of Maltese respond- ents want to retain the two low- est denomination coins. Support for the abolition of the two coins in Malta is four points lower than that in the entire Eu- rozone. Support for the abolition of these two coins is highest in Slovakia (86%) and Italy (80%) and lowest in Spain (55%) and Greece (57%). In the Eurozone as a whole the proportion of respondents in fa- vour of abolishing the 1c and 2c coins gradually increased from 60% in 2011 to 67% in March 2021; decreased to 64% in Oc- tober 2022 and is back at 66% in 2023. In September 2020 the Europe- an Commission launched a pub- lic consultation on the use of the 1c and 2c coins. European citizens were invited to express their views for four weeks on whether or not to abol- ish them through an open con- sultation on a dedicated website. The aim was to decide, at the end of 2021, whether a legisla- tive proposal for uniform round- ing rules for cash payments and possibly the abandonment of the 1c and 2c coins, was justified. But no decision was ever taken. A report published by the Eu- ropean Commission in 2018 revealed that almost half of all euro coins issued are one- and two-cent coins. The return rate of one- and two-cent coins to national central banks was the lowest for all denominations. "One-way use, a low return rate to national central banks and a steady increase in the issuance of the one- and two-cent coins all support the hypothesis that these denominations are not cir- culating efficiently among eco- nomic operators, but are mostly hoarded or lost," the report con- cluded. In addition to the environmen- tal cost of lost coins, the Europe- an Commission also concluded that "the acquisition costs alone already exceed the face value of the coin. From a budgetary point of view, issuing this denomina- tion is a loss-making activity for member states. Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Slovakia al- ready round prices to the nearest five cents, while producing only a handful of those coins for col- lectors, rather than general cir- culation. The survey also shows that the percentage of Maltese who, when buying things, still convert the price to the previous nation- al currency is declining. Only 3% do so for day-to-day shopping down from 6% in 2022, 8% in 2021 and 14% in 2019. 11% still do so for exceptional purposes like buying a car or a house, down from 13% in 2022 and 14% in 2019. Moreover, 9% replied that they don't even remember the value of the lira. Only 37% of Maltese respondents want to retain the two lowest denomination coins