Kalkara’s Fort San Salvatore to be returned to the public, PM says

Updated January 17

The government will "take back" Fort San Salvatore in Kalkara from private ownership, have it restored and returned to families for public use, Robert Abela announced on Friday.

Abela was speaking during a Labour Party event to celebrate the sixth anniversary of his appointment as party leader.  

On Wednesday, NGO Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara (Kalkara Heritage Association), together with parliamentary secretary Glenn Bedingfield, said urgent action was needed to save the privately owned fort from ruin.  

“The fort is unique heritage that ended up being used as a concrete batching plant and which is now dilapidated. We will return it to the public for families to enjoy,” Abela said, adding that such “courageous” decisions were only possible thanks to a strong economy. 

Located between Kalkara and Vittoriosa, the fort was built by the Knights of St John in 1724 and formed a key part of the Cottonera defences. It served as a prisoner of war camp in the First World War. 

In the 20th century, it housed a number of those interned by the British colonial government at the start of the Second World War for allegedly having Italian or German sympathies, including future Prime Minister Nerik Mizzi. 

In 1958, Prime Minister Dom Mintoff leased the fort to Prestressed Concrete Limited, a company owned by his brother Raymond Mintoff, for £100 every six months. In 1982, the fort's emphyteusis was redeemed for Lm2000 (equivalent of €4650), and the fort became private property.

Robert Abela addressed a rally to celebrate the sixth year at the helm of the Labour Party. Photo: PL

In a statement on Saturday, Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara welcomed the announcement and said it was ready to work with public authorities to ensure the project moved forward without delay. 

"This declaration marks a significant milestone in the safeguarding of one of the zone’s most valuable monuments and an important component of Malta’s national heritage," it said. 

'Not the announcement you were hoping for’ 

Before announcing the taking back of the fort, Abela joked with the crowd that he had "big news" but it would not be the announcement they were hoping for - that is, the date of the next election. 

“We still have plenty to do before then,” Abela said. 

The government, the prime minister added, was hard at work to return Manoel Island, the White Rocks complex, Fort Tigne and Fort Campbell to the public domain. 

“Whereas the Nationalist Party took away an area the size of Siġġiewi for development, we will be returning an area the size of Valletta for families to enjoy. I want these projects to be the mirror of a more beautiful Malta,” he said. 

Abela added that the promised regeneration of the Grand Harbour area was underway, with a masterplan for the Menqa area of Marsa soon to be announced and immediately implemented.  

“We want to make it the most beautiful place in the country – Malta has never seen anything like this project.” 

Reflecting on the six years since he was sworn in on January 12, 2020, Abela said the country had passed through several challenges, including the pandemic, several conflicts, an energy crisis, as well as the current political instability. 

He listed a raft of schemes and benefits that he said had strengthened families, including the grant of up to €2,000 to new parents, the first-time buyers scheme and the carers’ grant. 

The country’s unemployment rate was now the lowest in the EU, while in the third quarter of 2025, Malta registered the biggest surplus in the past six years. Abela also quoted an unnamed businessperson who told him that 2025 was the best business year in a decade. 

Looking to the future, Abela said that as part of the government’s Vision 2050 plan, the target is for Maltese families to have an income 30 per cent higher than the EU average. 

The prime minister said the government is expected to lower the deficit to three per cent of GDP well before the deadline stipulated by the European Commission, while in the third quarter of 2025, Malta registered the biggest surplus in past six years. 

Abela said he wanted workers to have more flexibility and rights to achieve a better work–life balance. He added that after wages were increased for government workers, the private sector would now be incentivised to raise workers’ wages, with the government covering up to 80 per cent of the wage increase. 

Abela also noted that the 1,000th baby conceived through IVF since the government made significant legislative updates in 2018, and again in 2022, would soon be born. 

"This makes me feel so proud," he said. 

“With their vote three years ago, others wanted to shut the door on those who could not become parents,” Abela continued, referring to Opposition MPs, who voted against the amendments.  

Turning to the current geopolitical situation, which he described as “red hot”, Abela said the constant change and escalation required experienced, mature, capable and wise leadership to ensure Malta continued being protected.  

“Who do you trust to lead us in these sensitive times, [Foreign Affairs Minister] Ian Borg, or [Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister] Beppe Fenech Adami?” he asked the crowd.