BARLETTA – A “landing”, in the roundabout between via Regina Margherita and via Foggia, of the “3-330, two-seater T-33A Air Force aircraft with Serial 55-3030” which created a bitter controversy between the Municipality, some political forces and many citizens who criticized the choice on the web. In short, the installation desired by the Cannito administration was not received in the best way – the aircraft was purchased in 2021 – which in the intentions of Palazzo di Città represents a «clear reference to the strategic importance of the city of Barletta during the Second World War ».
The opinions regarding the novelty that appeared the other day are diametrically opposed: on the one hand a symbol of peace, on the other an incitement to war. Mayor Cannito himself underlined that it is «an aircraft symbol of peace, used for humanitarian aid by Italy after the Second World War. That aircraft, together with others, was responsible for helping the affected populations and rebuilding the nation. An aircraft, therefore, used for operations peace keeping with the aim of maintaining international peace.”
«This is the meaning we want to give to the presence of this aircraft, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Air Force. A tribute to the great heart of the people of Barletta in the most difficult moments of the country as well as testifying that peace always wins war. The rondo will be equipped with greenery and flowers and illuminated with our tricolor, underlining our pride in being Italian.”
The opinion of Luca Savella (M5S) is diametrically opposed: «While our squares are increasingly in a state of degradation and abandonment with many other critical issues, Cannito finds the time to install a war plane, in a historical period in which threats of a world war are increasingly concrete. It would have been nice to imagine the installation of a peace flag, less expensive and with a stronger message, in line with article 11 of the Constitution.”
But that is not all. «That plane does not represent the city of Barletta in any way. We ask the administration to commit to something more useful and concrete for the people of Barletta, respecting the true symbols of our culture and our city”, comments the Five Star Movement.
Also against and “indignant” are Carmine Doronzo and Michela Diviccaro (Civic Coalition): “A little more than two months have passed since, in the Chamber, we expressed solidarity with the populations decimated by war conflicts and now we display a war trophy? These are not the symbols to be proud of and display. This is not the memory to be safeguarded. For the umpteenth time the mayor and his council are the masters without confronting anyone, espousing the values of an ultra-right of which, however, we should only be ashamed.”
«Cannito goes to war. We all believe that public money should be spent to improve the lives of a community. But the Cannito administration does not think the same way, indeed it believes that public money can be wasted on war propaganda operations. Because the installation of that military plane represents exactly this”, Alessandro Zagaria (Exit Collective). «While for the past two years a war has been raging at the gates of Europe that risks engulfing the entire continent, the mayor and the center-right majority have nothing better to propose to the city than a war plane on display», he concludes .
