Manoel Island national park pledge broken after padel courts approved, PN says

The Nationalist Party has accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of breaking his pledge to return Manoel Island to the public, after illegal padel courts were approved on site. 

The party's criticism followed a Planning Authority decision to sanction 20 padel courts illegally built on Manoel Island and approve another 10 to be built. The authority imposed a €25,000 fine for the unauthorised works. 

On Friday, the party said the government's promise to turn Manoel Island into a national park began to unravel weeks after the election.

It said that while taxpayers had to pay more than €43 million to reclaim Manoel Island, the public witnessed how parts of the island were handed over for private use.

The statement was signed by Planning Shadow Minister Rebekah Borg, Lands Shadow Minister Stanley Zammit and Environment Shadow Minister Mark Anthony Sammut.

The PN asked how Abela could justify the decision, so soon after pledging to return the land to the public.

"The Prime Minister had promised to turn Manoel Island into a national park for Maltese families to enjoy. Yet to this day, those words have not been backed by any legal guarantee defining what a national park is and what may or may not be permitted within it," the statement read. 

The PN said it had proposed legislation establishing a legal definition of a national park and safeguards to protect designated sites for future generations.

"Robert Abela’s government chose not to do so. Today, we understand why."

Protest called for Friday

Meanwhile, Moviment Graffitti announced a protest outside the padel courts on Manoel Island for Friday at 6pm, calling for people to take a stand against "this obscenity".

"We demand that the Prime Minister honour his promise and ensure that any plans for Manoel Island are developed through a holistic approach that safeguards the common good," the NGO said. 

"We have always insisted that Gżira United FC should be given a football ground on Manoel Island, as has been promised for decades. However, the land now occupied by the padel courts forms part of the site that we, as the public, paid €43 million to bring back into public ownership."

“Fight back against these bullies who want to get rich off our land.”

Gżira United FC questions PN's opposition 

Gżira United FC responded on Saturday, accusing the PN of ignoring the site's "historic and legal context".

In the post, the club said the land was not previously public open space but formed part of the historic Nicholl Ground, which had been allocated for sporting use.

"This is not a change of use from public open space to sport, but the continuation of a sporting facility on land that has served that purpose for decades," the club said. 

The club previously explained it faced "huge financial pressure" after the €10,000 monthly income stopped when the government terminated its agreement with MIDI. It insisted that investing in padel facilities was the only way to keep the club going. 

The football club said it began work after being advised that no development permit was needed because the site was already used for sport and the proposed structures were temporary. 

"Despite acting on this understanding, the club was subsequently fined €25,000," it said. 

The club questioned why the PN and other organisations were opposing the project intended to improve sporting facilities and support one of Malta's oldest football clubs. 

"Why has the Nationalist Party chosen to oppose a project that continues the historic sporting use of the Nicholl Ground instead of supporting a project that strengthens one of Malta's oldest football clubs and safeguards the future of sport on this site?"

It also said the courts would be relocated if they proved incompatible with the government’s plans for a national park.

"This demonstrates that the club's objective is not to hinder the national park project but to ensure that sporting facilities continue to serve the community while respecting the government's long-term vision for Manoel Island."