Public lectures to ‘counter Cottonera stigma’

A series of public lectures on Cottonera and Kalkara will be held so as to remove the stigma surrounding the area, Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi announced.

The series of four lectures will focus on the four different localities (Birgu, Bormla, Isla and Kalkara) and they will follow a chronological order. All members of the public are invited to the lectures, which will be held in Maltese.

Charles Flores, chairman of the Committee for the rehabilitation of Cottonera also spoke about the importance of recognizing the area for its wealth of heritage. He called Cottonera the “Cinderella” of the Maltese islands as it is so incredibly rich, but it is very often forgotten and remembered only for its stigma.

“Maltese people tend to forget how much Cottonera has to offer. I have already seen an enormous amount of change in the area over recent months, and we intend to continue with this momentum. People need to talk about this area with a deep sense of pride, even because it has been the hometown of many well-known Maltese figures,” Mizzi said.

Lectures will be held on Sundays at various locations around the four cities, with the first lecture taking place on Sunday 25th January at the  Senglea day centre. This lecture will deal with the early history of Cottonera and its early connections with the sea. The other lectures will discuss the significance of Villa Bighi and other important buildings, the war and its impact on the area, and finally the projects which are currently being undertaken in the area. After a twenty minute discussion, participants will be taken for an hour-long tour of the places discussed.

Professional lecturers and guest speakers will deliver the lectures, which  will be free-of-charge. However, people interested in attending will have to reserve their places from beforehand.