Thank you for the support

On the last day of 2025, Prime Minister Robert Abela delivered his New Year’s address to the nation from Manoel Island, which he described as “a site with a beautiful history and an even more beautiful future”. He opened the speech by re-stating the government’s commitment to turning the island into a national park.

Earlier that day, we awoke to the news that Times of Malta recognised us, the activists involved in the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign, as its Persons of the Year, noting that the mobilisation of tens of thousands of people helped shift national opinion, and put the public restoration of abandoned open spaces like White Rocks and Fort Campbell on the agenda. Assuming that the government keeps its promise, the three sites, with a combined area larger than Valletta, will become new national parks.

Nine months earlier, I wrote an opinion piece for this newspaper, on behalf of the campaign. That article bore the headline: ‘Manoel Island Park: An idea whose time has come.’ At the time, it was a call for action. In a matter of weeks, it turned out to be a statement of fact.

Although the success of what began as a last-ditch effort to overturn an “iron-clad” arrangement passed unanimously by parliament a quarter of a century ago can be attributed to many factors, one thing is for certain: It struck a chord with the public mood. Support poured in from all directions, allowing us to work with wonderfully talented people who contributed their time and expertise to the cause.

More than one volunteer took it upon themselves to go petitioning on their own. In fact, tens of them came forward. Some were friends or acquaintances, others heard of the campaign and stepped up to the task. One individual described the experience as one of major growth and self-improvement. Among them were also people who were not born in Malta but who have come to see it as their home, and who also saw the value of Manoel Island far beyond real estate.

Established personalities lent their faces and voices to our promotional videos, while artists created designs that proved so popular we had to print more tote-bags mid-way through the campaign. Our total costs, just over €7,500, were covered by public donations. Various suppliers cut their rates. Politicians and public figures used their platform to urge their followers to sign the petition.

People very much want to have a hand in building a better future- Kenneth Busuttil Griffin

While collecting petition signatures, we had countless conversations with people around Malta. Some called their friends over and encouraged them to sign. Others took the time to explain to their children what they were signing, emphasising that they are signing the petition to give them a better future.

What the experience showed us is that people very much want to have a hand in building that better future. What the Manoel Island campaign represented was not limited to the site but a bold statement of where we want Malta to go, setting the tone for the country’s future development, where legacy, family and health are prioritised over narrow commercial interests.

People responded to that vision, made it their own and set about turning it into reality, showing real desire to commit their time towards a common cause.

As a campaign, we will shortly be releasing a summary of findings from five workshops with over 70 participants, organised to draft an idea of what a Manoel Island Park could be, what it could look like and how it can best serve the needs of Malta’s communities.

These workshops were developed with the same spirit of co-creation, bringing people into the deliberation process so that the results, like those of the petition campaign, do not simply reflect the efforts of our small team, driven by activists from Moviment Graffitti and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, but those of every person who contributed.

In the same spirit, as Manoel Island: Post Għalina, we thank Times of Malta for the recognition as Persons of the Year and extend a heartfelt congratulations to all those who contributed in some way to the campaign, all of whom should feel included in the recognition. Like us, we hope all feel freshly encouraged to continue working towards a better future. 

Kenneth Busuttil Griffin is a team member of the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign.