Twenty-five professionals engaged in cultural heritage conservation and restoration received their warrant to practise, the first time this was issued by the Board of Warrants of Restorers-Conservators.

The Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, José Herrera, who distributed the warrants, described the event as a very significant step in the field of cultural heritage. It marked the start of the process of giving formal and prestigious recognition to such professionals, Dr Herrera observed.

He said cultural heritage is an essential element of any society and, thus, its preservation is necessary to be entrusted to capable, competent and professional people. The work done on prestigious and valuable heritage should be regulated and entrusted to individuals who can do such work professionally and within an ethical context, the minister explained.