‘Today’s Needs Are Different’: PN MP On Manoel Island Concession
Transport Shadow Minister Mark Anthony Sammut urged for the government and the Nationalist Party to agree on a way forward regarding the Manoel Island concession that ensures a green lung in one of Malta’s “most congested areas”.
In a social media post, Sammut explained that 25 years ago, the government and the Opposition Party agreed on a concession to develop part of Manoel Island. It was an eight-year process under different administrations.
“We cannot judge the decisions made 25 years ago by today’s standards. But the needs and priorities of our country today are certainly different from what they were back then,” he wrote.
“If there is a breach of contract that could allow this space to remain a public open space, then let’s – Government and Opposition – agree once again. This time, to ensure there is a green lung in one of the most congested areas in our country.”
The highly controversial development led by MIDI received major public backlash with over 29,000 people backing a parliamentary petition urging for the area to be turned into a national park.
Activists behind the petition argue that the concession has not been honoured by MIDI and therefore the state has reason to take the island back. However, the developers argued that these claims are “false and misleading”.
MIDI stated that delays to the project were justified and permitted under the original agreement, particularly due to archaeological discoveries, planning appeals, and the requirement for a Heritage Impact Assessment which is currently underway.
Prime Minister Robert Abela repeatedly supported this project, saying that it would cost Malta hundreds of millions of euros to buy out the developers and take the island back. Just yesterday, he doubled down saying that Manoel Island will become a template of high-quality development and emphasising that the project has attracted 5,000 local bondholders.
He once again pointed out that “60% of the project is dedicated to green, open public spaces and a further 20% is dedicated to historic sites which the developers are obliged to restore at an estimated cost of €150 million.”
However, this has not satisfied critics, including several PN MPs who have come out against the project despite their leader’s urge for the government to respect its contractual obligations outlined in the concession.
Eve Borg Bonello, the party’s youngest MP, published a video of herself on Manoel Island, insisting that be returned to the public. She argued that the government was ready to throw away €400 million on a corrupt hospitals’ deal and continues to spend millions in direct orders, PR campaigns and persons of trust annually.
“So don’t tell us there is no money to give communities a real green space.”
Should the government take back Manoel Island?
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