MIDI: We spoke to government about returning Fort Tigné before Portelli deal

Updated 8.10pm with Alex Borg reaction.

The MIDI consortium on Tuesday said it had discussed returning Fort Tigné to the government before looking for private investors to take over the site.

The private firm was responding hours after the prime minister indicated that the government opposed MIDI’s transfer of the historic Sliema fort to construction mogul Joseph Portelli.

Last week, MIDI announced it had entered into a promise of sale with Portelli’s firm J Portelli Projects Ltd to transfer its remaining 75-year lease of the fort in a €2.5 million deal that would allow Portelli to convert the historic fort into a hotel.

Abela on Tuesday described plans for a  hotel inside the fort as "obscene." 

“It would be obscene if a hotel were to be built there. We will do all we can to protect the national interest," he told the media.

In its statement on Tuesday, MIDI said the sale of Fort Tigné and other properties at  Tigné Point was part of a concerted effort by the company to raise funds for the redemption of the company’s €50 million bond, which is due in July 2026. 

The sale of Fort Tigné is subject to a number of conditions, including the government’s consent for the transfer of the fort from MIDI plc to J Portelli Projects Limited, it pointed out.

Sections of Fort Tigné were a shambles before restoration started. MIDI photo.

MIDI: Brief cites commercialising internal areas  

The company said it was well aware of the heritage value of Fort Tigné as it 'painstakingly' restored it at its own expense.

"The development brief for Tigné Point and the outline development permit contemplate the commercialisation of the internal spaces of the fort with defined heritage routes to ensure that the fort remains accessible to the public at all times. It was always clear that the sustainable development of the fort requires the existing buildings within the fort to be repurposed for commercial use while preserving their heritage value," MIDI said.

"Prior to initiating a search for private investors, MIDI had exhausted discussions with the government and Heritage Malta for the return of Fort Tigné to the government. The company confirms that as the sale is subject to government consent, the possibility still exists for the fort to revert to government," it said. 

PN leader urges Abela not to deceive the people

PN leader Alex Borg in a Facebook reaction to the MIDI statement, asked what was behind the statement by the prime minister in the morning, given that talks had already been held on a return of the fort.

He said the prime minister's declaration tried to somehow blame the issue on past administrations when, in January 2000 parliament was unanimous in approving the emphyteutical grant to MIDI.

Borg urged the prime minister not to continue to deceive the people.

He reiterated a previous appeal for the government to intervene in terms of its commercial obligations to ensure that the fort was returned to the people.

The people, he said, wanted a prime minister who was honest and not one who made statements as they suited him