29,000 Signatures Collected To Turn Manoel Island Into A National Park
29,041 signatures have been collected for the parliamentary petition, Manoel Island: Post Għalina, calling for Manoel Island to be turned into a national heritage park after it ran for two months.
“Over 29,000 people voiced their dream of Manoel Island as a public green space to be enjoyed by all. This number of signatories could not have been reached without the active participation of dozens of people who were inspired to join the campaign and put their time, initiative and energy behind it. What began as an idea turned into a truly grassroots effort that has delivered a strong mandate for action that cannot be ignored,” said a spokesperson for the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign.
The parliamentary petition calls on the government to bring Manoel Island back into public ownership and turn it into a national park. The campaign was led by led by Moviment Graffitti and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) and endorsed by almost 50 organisations and community groups. The petition received public supporting, with several public personalities backing the campaign’s call.
Among the politicians voicing their support were former PL Prime Minister Alfred Sant, former PL Minister Evarist Bartolo, and PN MP Albert Buttigieg. The Momentum party and its most prominent member, Arnold Cassola, ran a parallel campaign in support of the petition and its objectives, while ADPD also expressed its support.
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“Collecting signatures for this petition exposed how incredibly popular this dream of a national heritage park on Manoel Island is among the public. Whether collecting signatures at a rock concert or before a performance by the national orchestra, whether talking to people who remember Manoel Island before it was illegally closed off by MIDI or to young students at Junior College – people did not hesitate to sign once we presented the vision of Manoel Island as a national heritage park,” campaign spokesperson, Marie Claire Gatt said.
Thousands signed in the final 24 hours, delivering what campaigners say is a “strong mandate for action.” The total number of signatures amount to more than 5% of the population of Malta. “The provisions in MIDI’s contract give the Maltese government the right to rescind the entire concession. The renegotiation process this has opened has given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take Manoel Island back to create a park for the people. We are convinced that the government has the right and means to take action for the common good. The more than 29,000 people who signed the petition have provided the mandate. We now ask: Does the Government have the political will?,” asked Jamie Mercieca, speaking for FAA.
The campaigners have said that their efforts will continue to push for the public’s will to be turned into executive government action. Robert Louis Fenech, in whose name the petition was submitted, said: “The cost of inaction is far greater than any short-term compensation. This is a unique opportunity that we will never see again. It is an opportunity to place quality of life and health at the forefront, with decisive action, backed by the popular will.”
📸: SkyEye Malta
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