Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria features in 2012 Budget Speech

The Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria must be very proud indeed to have featured explicitly in the Finance Minister’s speech presenting the 2012 Budget in parliament.  Mr Fenech mentioned the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria as an ongoing beneficiary of state and European Union funds in support of an improvement in the physical appearance and in the promotion of the history of our country.

To have the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria featuring in the budget speech, when so many citizens throughout Malta and Gozo usually sit tight listening in to the Finance Minister, could be interpreted as a deliberate pat on the back for the hard-working directors and members of the Foundation who are forking out time and energy to see through the project at hand, namely, the eco-interactive museum illustrating the making of the people of Gozo.

The Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria got the mention alongside Ta’ Pinu.  Both, together with several other bodies across the Maltese islands, are currently carrying out projects of a cultural nature with the support of ERDF funding.  What makes the citation of the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria particularly flattering is that it is a non-governmental organisation which, though under contract with St George’s Basilica, does not get any financial support from it and works independently and entirely through voluntary initiative and the support of benefactors.

The grass-roots support for the City of Gozo Foundation – incorrectly converted by the English translators as “the Victoria Foundation of Gozo” – is indeed quite impressive.  But it has also won the support of eco-Gozo whose aims, as detailed by the Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono, include the enhancement of the island’s identity, a better quality of life, a society exerting less pressure on the environment, a wholesome natural and cultural environment and quality investment.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said also is supporting the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria through government’s Co-Financing Fund for non-governmental organisations.

Mr Tonio Fenech mentioned the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria in the context of the government’s plan to the “upgrading of our touristic (which) product plays an important role in this Government’s strategy”.  He said that such investment as in the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria attracts more tourists to our country and improves our country’s environment. 

“Throughout 2012, Local Councils and various associations will benefit from 3.3 million euro in European Union and Maltese Government Funds during 2012 to carry out a number of projects concerning the physical appearance and history of our country’s localities.  They include Ta’ Pinu and the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria, historic centres in various villages, and public gardens”.

Work on the eco and inter-active museum Il-Ħaġar: The Making of a People that the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria is creating, started with the submissions of architectural plans for official approval in 2006 and is now rising in the historic centre of Victoria, right across the street and facing the “southern” door of St George’s Basilica.  It is targeted for completion by 2012.

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