I owe an apology to Joe Magro Conti
And here it is. I had a chat with him the other day, and he was very cross. “I was on the Dean’s List,” he said. “But I don’t remember that you were.” “I don’t remember that you were, either,” I said. Perplexed, we discussed dates and all became clear. Joe began reading archaeology a year ahead of me, and so was on that blessed Dean’s List the year before I was. The archaeology course was structured in such a way that, after some basic freshmen courses, all students from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years took courses together, so you quickly forgot who was in your year, who was in the year above, and who was in the year below. Joe and I were together for three years, not four. I promised Joe that I would clear up matters, and so I will.
We had another thing in common back then in that we were in a particularly difficult position. We were both ‘grown-ups’ and so had nobody back home doing the chores so that we would be free to read and write. It was one long, four-year struggle. He had taken four years of unpaid leave from the planning authority, where he worked already, and was surviving on a student’s stipend. I had no stipend, because I worked independently and, with three young children, there was no way I could swap that for a stipend and still help pay the bills. So we would sometimes grouch about this, and wonder what it must be like to have the easy life of a 20-year-old student.
Joe was also very upset at having been hauled into the controversy, waking up one morning to find his name being flashed around by Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar with nary so much as a telephone call to warn him. He was pulled in like ‘Pilatu fil-kredu’ and he’s hating every minute of it. “I’m a civil servant, paid by the state to serve the interests of the state,” he said, “and the last thing I want is to find myself involved in these battles.”
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Prosit.
A genuine apology is refreshing, as well as magnanimous of course. Prosit.
[Daphne – Well, actually, he was magnanimous, and it was nice to get back in touch, anyway.]
Daphne, glad to see that you apologised. You’re not such a bad sort after all.
“I’m a civil servant, paid by the state to serve the interests of the state,” he said.
But who exactly is the “state” and who finances such a “state”?
[Daphne – The state is a legal concept and a legal entity, Sybil, regardless of who pays for its activities, as opposed to paying for ‘it’.]
Your mistake doesn`t change the fact that poor Mr.Joe Magro Conti may well have been used by the FAA.
whilst not strictly related to this topic, but to the general theme of the last few days, have you read Alfred Mifsud’s article in the independent today? His suggestion regarding the opera house is not without merit. His suggestion regarding the opera house is not without merit.
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=83422
[Daphne – I am glad to see that we are in perfect agreement on this score: “Parliament is the primary exponent of democracy and its location in a prominent place in the capital city symbolises the importance of democracy for our development.” Going by what I have read so far, Alfred Mifsud and I are the only two commentators who have made that point. I trust we are not the only two who are aware of the significance of a parliament building as the ultimate symbol of democracy.]
if only we could settle differences this way, this little rock would truly be a jewel in the Med
just noticed i repeated myself.
just noticed i repeated myself.
No need to say that Joe Magro Conti was not the only one that was used – I was going to say abused (God forbid)- in this way by FAA. Even gentlemen with doctorates were. The Cultural Heritage Advisory Board actually agreed to wait for the Environment Impact Assessment on the St John’s Co-Cathedral museum project BEFORE they would give their final “advice” as an Advisory Board to the MEPA Board – but nobody knows this.
And why did FAA forget to tell the people that the Cathedral Chapter were completely against exhibiting the tapestries in a palazzo, whether near or far?
Just a note about my previous contribution: the Cathedral Chapter were AND STILL ARE AGAINST exhibiting the tapestries in a palazzo, whether near or far. FAA please note for future reference.
I join the other posts in congratulating you for the apology. Very refreshing indeed. Allow me to add something about Joe’s character. Joe’s knowledge on cultural heritage aspects is impressive. And yet he is constantly hunting for new sources of information in order to update his knowledge base.
But was Joe professional in this particular case? The answer is an unequivocal yes. I have been shown documentation stating that in the St. John’s Cathedral case, he indicated that the requisite studies would need to be undertaken before a decision is taken. Joe is simply not the type to jump to conclusions. He would only make a recommendation when armed with a detailed informed opinion.
I cannot but command great respect for the professional manner in which he approaches his assignments. Apart from being knowledgeable and professional, Joe is also passionate, almost obsessed, with the safeguarding of Malta’s tangible heritage. Although I do not always agree with his recommendations, I cannot help but support him in expounding his case when observing his passion in delivering his arguments. My posting is not spurred by the fact that Joe happens to be one of my staff. I do it for the sake of furthering justice in terms of Joe’s public reputation.
Daphne, I am aware that you are a very busy person. However, I would very much appreciate if you could spare some time to meet Joe Magro Conti and discuss his past, current and envisaged future projects. I can assure you it would be a very healthy exchange which you would really appreciate.
My believe is that it is high time for journalism in Malta to disclose some of the more positive aspects of MEPA and which for some reason, are not finding their way to the public domain.
[Daphne – Joe and I have already spoken about this, rest assured.]
Daphne,
I just saw this piece. How I wish there were more journalists and columnists who take this stand. To write an apology in this manner and to actually find the time to make amends personally with JMC is not only brave but should be of example in a country where the word journalist has become equated with slapdash work and lies.
You give me hope.