Manoel Island talks in 'concluding stages' Robert Abela says

Talks between the government and the consortium that has title to Manoel Island are in their “concluding stages”, Robert Abela said on Sunday.

The prime minister said the government expects to finalise the agreement to take back the site “in the coming days or a few weeks”.

The government and MIDI have been in talks for several months over how much the government will need to pay the consortium to take back the island.

Once back in public hands, the government intends to turn the island — in one of Malta’s busiest areas — into a public park.

MiDI was handed a 99-year concession in 2000 to develop the island  However, following protests and a public campaign, the government announced it will take the site back.

Back in June, shortly after the government announced its intentions, sources told Times of Malta that the deal could cost around €70 million.

Midi’s vision for Manoel Island. The government wants to take the island back after public protests over the environmental impact of the proposed development. Photo: Midi

Robert Abela gave an update on the ongoing negotiations on Sunday morning during a panel discussion related to Women’s Day.

The panel, which discussed work-life balance and domestic violence, included Abela’s wife Lydia, Mariella Camilleri — president of Business and Professional Women — engineer Abigail Cutajar, lawyer Pearl Agius, and criminologist Janice Formosa Pace.

During her interventions, Formosa Pace said that the vast majority (78 per cent) of domestic violence cases stem from psychological abuse, and that 76 per cent of domestic violence victims are women.

Sunday's panel discussion. Photo: PL

She said the number of domestic violence incidents has increased, but that this is due to improved access to reporting.

Abela said the government has taken many steps to make reporting domestic violence easier.

“Before, domestic violence cases were reported at the local station, with officers who had no training on how to deal with these issues. Women also risked becoming victims twice over because they would feel humiliated at the station.”

He said the introduction of domestic violence hubs alongside reforms to the legal system — including a specialised judiciary — meant victims feel more at ease to report abuse.

The prime minister's wife, Lydia Abela, said men should take on more household and child-rearing responsibilities, pointing out that it is mostly women among government workers who choose to work reduced hours.

“There should be no shame in a man working reduced hours,” she said.

“I want to see more men pushing pushchairs and changing nappies,” she added.