Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/807528
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 2017 5 News Planning strains Heritage Superintendence's resources JAMES DEBONO 70% the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage's resources are dedicated to the assessment of planning applications and the regulation of development works, the cultural watchdog annual re- port reveals. The report also reveals that in 2016 SCH was unable to fulfil its legal obligation to update its in- ventory records "due to a lack of resources" and "more pressing commitments." The superintendence was as- signed two extra officers to bring its total staff complement to 14 officers. The number of development ap- plications assessed by the Super- intendence increased from 1,099 cases in 2015 to 5,440 in 2016. In 2012 the Superintendence was consulted on only 409 applica- tions. This sharp increase is attributed to changes in planning regula- tions enacted in 2016. At law each application requires a response from external consu- lates like the superintendence in 30 days from the publication of the application. The Superintendence is also now being advised by the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, formerly an advisory panel within the Planning Authority tasked with screening planning applica- tions on a regular basis. The committee is now perform- ing the same task within the Su- perintendence for Cultural Her- itage. The CHAC provided the superintendence advice of 307 applications. The committee now chaired by Superintendent Tony Pace in- cludes Magistrate Dennis Mon- tebello as its deputy chairperson. The annual report also reveals that in 2016 the superintendence was "not in a position to publish any new inventory records…due to a lack of resources and other more pressing commitments." The first instalment of inventory records were published in 2011. Of the 4807 records inputted on the Cultural Heritage Inventory Management System, none were inputted in 2016. Article 7 of the Cultural Herit- age Act stipulates that the Su- perintendence has to compile a National Inventory of cultural property in the Maltese islands. MIDI PLC CORDIALLY INVITES THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO VIEW THE RESTORED FORT MANOEL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS: • Regular scheduled guided tours around Fort Manoel in Maltese and English by qualified guides • Static presentation of the Fort's history and the restoration process • A series of lectures related to the Fort and Maltese history • Re-enactments and Band Displays • Sunday Mass at 12:15 - Chapel of St Anthony of Padua, Fort Manoel Lectures on Saturday 8th April 2017: 10:00 – 11:00 Who was de Mondion? - Professor Denis De Lucca 14.00 – 15.00 Preserving Collective Memory - The Notarial Archives - Dr Joan Abela 15:30 – 16:30 Sotto Le Loggie - The Lazzaretto - Corsairs at Manoel Island - Liam Gauci Lectures on Sunday 9th April 2017: 10:00 – 11:00 The Role of Women in WWII - The Case of Malta - Simon Cusens 11:30 – 12:30 The Lazzaretto & Quarantine Harbour - Vincent Zammit 13:15 – 14:15 Fort Manoel - Faces & Voices - Perit Edward Said 14:45 – 14:45 Majesty, Magnificence, Good Taste - Rituals in the Grand Harbour of the Hospitallers - Dr Emmanuel Buttigieg 16:00 – 17:00 The Men behind the Lines of Defence - French Military Engineers in 18th Century Malta - Fleur Brincat Band Displays: Saturday 8th April 2017 15:00 – 15:30 Tama Tnabar Drums 16:00 – 16:30 Marsa Scouts Pipes & Drums Re-enactments: All Day Saturday 8th April & Sunday 9th April Malta Command WWII Living History Group Entrance to the Open Weekend is free. Park & Ride available - please follow signs from the gate. FORT MANOEL OPEN WEEKEND AT MANOEL ISLAND Show of Arms Scuola d'Armi Group For more information please call on 2065 5200 or email openday@midimalta.com Sunday 9th April 2017 10:30 – 11:00 Msida Sea Scouts 15:00 – 15:30 Tama Tnabar Drums SATURDAY 8TH APRIL 2017 09:30 - 17:30 SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2017 09:00 - 18:00 Smuggled cocaine was destined for chicken farmer, jury told MATTHEW AGIUS A man on trial for involvement in cocaine smuggling had told police that the drugs were meant to be delivered to a Siggiewi chicken farmer, his jury was told yesterday. Inspector Herman Mula testi- fied in the trial of Kingsley Wil- cox, a 35-year-old Nigerian-born Malta resident, who is charged with conspiracy to import co- caine. Wilcox had named Angelo Bilocca as the person to whom the drugs had been meant to be deliv- ered. Reports from the time say that Bilocca and his partner had been arrested and charged with con- spiracy to import cocaine after the controlled delivery in 2012. Bilocca was also previously re- ported to have been charged in a people smuggling case. Wilcox had told police that he was supposed to collect a con- signment of drugs from a Spanish man and pass it on to "another man who lived in a farmhouse in Siggiewi," the inspector said. Wilcox had been arrested upon arrival at the airport in October 2012. Although no drugs were found on his person, evidence from his mobile phone showed that he was planning to meet a Spanish man who was carrying the 1.085kg of cocaine in a suit- case. The drugs are believe to have a street value of over €86,000.