Activists welcome deal to return Manoel Island to the people
'We had stated that it would not cost hundreds of millions'
Activists who campaigned long and hard for Manoel Island to be turned into a public park have welcomed the €43 million deal reached between the government and the MIDI Consortium for the island to be returned to the state.
Several NGOs had banded together a year ago, forming the campaign, Manoel Island: Post Għalina.
Moviment Graffiti and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) on Tuesday praised the government and MIDI for reaching a “swift and diplomatic settlement, which avoids unnecessary delays.”
“Indeed, we had stated that it would not cost the country hundreds of millions to reimburse MIDI's investments to return Manoel Island to the public,” the statement read.
Almost a year ago, Prime Minister Robert Abela had suggested that reclaiming Manoel Island could cost hundreds of millions and that pursuing this route would not be the best use of taxpayer money.
“The campaign remains active in pursuing its goal of seeing Manoel Island transformed into a public park that celebrates and integrates natural and historical assets and community needs,” the activists said.
Last year the NGOs held a series of public workshops where people could share their ideas for the island’s future. The results led to the publication of a Vision document earlier this year.
The Vision presented Manoel Island as a serene refuge, free from traffic, where children can play safely, and which is not overly commercialised.
Campaign spokesperson Robert Louis Fenech told the Times of Malta that, following a meeting with Environment Minister Miriam Dalli and Project Green last month, he was confident that the government was aligned with that vision.
Moving forward, the NGOs said they would continue to follow Project Green’s public consultation to ensure that the campaign’s values were developed through public discussion.
They also expressed satisfaction with the Planning Authority’s decision last week to halt the illegal development of padel courts on the former Gżira United F.C. football pitch and stressed that any illegal works must be reversed.
Activists have been campaigning for Manoel Island to be returned to the public since MIDI was granted a 99-year temporary emphyteusis in 2000.
They launched the new campaign in March 2025 following MIDI’s announcement that it was negotiating an extension to the concession conditions with the government.
The government initially resisted calls for the concession to be rescinded and for Manoel Island to become a national park, citing costs. Abela eventually said it was his “dream” to give Manoel Island back to the people and the government accused MIDI of breach of contract since it was clear that development deadlines would not be achieved.
Culture and Lands Minister Owen Bonnici said that during negotiations, MIDI had requested a refund of €78 million for its works on Manoel Island, which included the restoration of Fort Manoel and the building of an electricity distribution centre. But eventually it agreed on the figure of €43 million.