Manoel Island: Where we stand, what comes next

Last month, parliament approved the deal that will see Manoel Island, as well as Fort Tigné, return to public hands. This welcome news is another milestone for the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign, confirming the role of grassroots activism in building public support and setting the political agenda.

When we launched our petition, calling on the government to enter negotiations to return Manoel Island to public ownership as a public park, we said the country stood at a crossroads.

We had a choice: follow the direction established decades ago or use the narrow window of opportunity afforded by a contractual clause to strike out in a new direction.

The campaign captured the nation’s imagination.

The 29,057 people who “dared to dream” secured the political buy-in required to turn public pressure into government action, with the outpouring of support serving as a clear display of the public’s desire for bold and ambitious projects that serve the many, not the few.

The impact of the campaign extends beyond Manoel Island. Over the past months, the government has also committed to turning White Rocks and Fort Campbell into public parks. There is little doubt that the success achieved by the campaign served as a roadmap that the government, to its credit, wasted little time in adopting as its own.

These public park projects signify major public investment in the kind of green infrastructure that Maltese families increasingly find necessary but lacking. The restoration of Fort Campbell’s decaying structures and the decision to forego the sale of White Rocks to private interests will certainly have an impact on the national purse, demonstrating the material shift in national political discourse as a result of the campaign. The public now expects this kind of investment in quality of life.

The considerable sum that the government has committed to refunding MIDI for its expenses over the 26 years it invested in Manoel Island and Fort Tigné should, of course, be seen in that context. We were clear from the start that the negotiations should not be – and indeed could not be – a zero-sum game. From the get-go, we called for decisive action, not rhetorical bluster that achieves nothing.

Lands Minister Owen Bonnici has stated that MIDI submitted expense claims of €78 million for Manoel Island alone. The final agreement will see the company refunded €43 million for both Manoel Island and Fort Tigné. There has been plenty of criticism levied at this sum, though it seems likely that beyond a certain amount, MIDI would have felt obliged to take the matter to court. Both parties should be commended for coming to an agreement that avoids lengthy court proceedings.

We have come a long way, but there is yet a long way to go- Marie Claire Gatt

The parliamentary process was similarly positive. The deal was rightly scrutinised, and the workings and rationale provided for the agreed-upon final sum appear to be grounded in reality.

Back in 1999, parliament voted unanimously to cede Manoel Island to speculative development. Last week, both sides of the House again voted unanimously – but this time to take it back. 

If there are no surprises at MIDI’s shareholders’ meeting later this month, all that would be left to return Manoel Island to public hands would be a few strokes of a pen, opening the road to its future.

The vision we built together with other organisations, experts in heritage and biodiversity, and the different communities that frequent Manoel Island paints a clear picture of what that future should look like. A serene public space with free and safe access and strict limits on vehicles. A place where well-being and health lie at the heart of the experience, and where cultural memory and ecological systems are nurtured and respected.

Underpinning this vision is an approach of community guardianship, effective enforcement, and non-commercial identity. Unfortunately, the recent illegal development of a padel complex throws the importance of this approach into sharp relief.

With MIDI on its way out, there is a real danger that others will be emboldened by the laissez-faire attitude that characterises authorities’ response to blatant illegalities.

Therefore, while reiterating our wholehearted support for Gżira FC to have their long overdue football facilities, we must stress that illegal works should be reversed so that any development on Manoel Island follows the eventual masterplan for the park. Anything less risks tying the hands of those responsible for designing the park.

On this note, it is worth pointing to the recent call by the Chamber of Architects that the development of such parks of national importance should be conducted in line with best practice – that is, through an open design competition that celebrates each park’s unique identity, shaped by its history, landscape, setting and community relevance.

We have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go. The campaign has been characterised by a positive approach that serves as a statement of intent for the Malta we want to see and leave for our children. The next steps must be carefully considered and approached with rigour.

Today, we can confidently say that Manoel Island will be a place for us. Now, it is up to us to ensure that it’s a place we can be proud of.

Marie Claire Gatt is an ecologist, an activist with Moviment Graffitti, and part of the campaign Manoel Island: Post Għalina.