Nationalist Party candidates for Gozo, Luke Said and Norma Camilleri, have highlighted what they describe as the “unacceptable situation” relating to the prehistoric Santa Verna Temple in Xaghra.
They stressed that the Santa Verna Temple area is “of immense archaeological importance, forming part of our nation’s prehistoric heritage. Any development near this site must be approached with full transparency and care.”
Said and Camilleri explained that in recent years, a local resident reported the discovery of bones during works in the area. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) confirmed these as prehistoric human remains, likely from a secondary burial.
This, they said, was documented in SCH’s 2023 Annual Report, which detailed an intentionally arranged burial pit containing disarticulated bones and Temple Period pottery.
“With ongoing works nearby, particularly along Triq George McAdam and adjoining plots, we call on clarity on the current status of investigations by the SCH, stated Said and Camilleri.
The PN candidates concluded by saying that “Malta’s heritage belongs to all of us. Transparency and accountability are key in the protection of such irreplaceable cultural sites.”
Photos: Luke Said and Norma Camilleri