By Sebastian Tanti Burlò
It was barely over a week ago that businessnow.mt published a post with a headline that ran, Foreign property buyers want ‘more than sea views,’ says MIDI CEO Mark Portelli. He was talking at a panel discussion organised by The Malta Business Network that focused on Special Designated Areas (SDAs) – a status granted to luxury property developments that allows non-EU nationals to purchase property in Malta. Or as Portelli goes on to refer to them, global mobile buyers.
The panellists expounded on how they expected over 2,500 new fancy fletsijiet in these SDAs. Referring to up-and-coming projects, Naxxar’s Targa Square, Villa Rosa, Manoel Island, TownSquare, PX Lettings, the second phase of Fort Chambray, Mistra Heights, Metropolis, and the remaining phases of Smart City.
But as of last Sunday, Manoel Island seems to have been dropped from that list. Or should I say spared. Years of campaigning and protests by various NGOs, culminating in the now historic 29,000 strong parliamentary petition, Manoel Island: A Place for Us.
How confident must the CEO, Portelli, have felt with the backing of both the PM and the finally-departed opposition leader. For Robo-Bob, it would be wrong for the government to break its obligations to Midi’s shareholders and it would anyway be way too expensive to do so. And how can we forget Bernard the Bland calling the petition to convert the island into a public park a “beautiful dream”, which seems to have lasted longer than his tenure as PN Leader.
The week waned, and so I suppose did CEO Portelli’s confidence. Rumbling voices of dissent from the innards and forgotten backwaters of both political parties began to be raised, spewing from some of the unlikeliest of holes. As more politicians began to join this chorus of dissent, our leaders suddenly changed their tune.
Have the scales finally fallen from our politicians’ eyes? I doubt it, but if this is what a modern-day Damascene Conversion looks like, then I’ll take it, welcome on board.
Moviment Graffitti’s and Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahajr’s petition to turn Manoel Island into a 30-hectare unique natural heritage park in the middle of Marsamxett Harbour, boasting the magnificent 18th Century Fort Manoel and it’s Lazaretto, clearly struck a resounding chord with the public.
A public visibly disgusted at the display of development debauchery by these ever-familiar family names. A glut facilitated and serviced for far too long and all too willingly by our political class from both sides. But with these unexpected u-turns by these delinquents, it seems like the winds have changed direction and finally it is our sails and not theirs that are taught.
While there is cause for celebration, the battle is nowhere near won. And although I welcome their change of heart with an abundance of hope, I also know the only way for that hope to become reality is to keep working at it, and not just hope for that prickly pear to fall into your mouth.
Even if this is a true Damascene conversion, we must remember who these converts are. I need not remind you of their track record; simply look around you. The sceptic in me inevitably asks: What comes next? What changed their minds? At what cost? Cui bono?
What comes next? As individual shareholders of Malta we must provide more support to these valiant NGOs who have brought us to this point. Volunteer, donate and participate – none of it would have been possible without the pressure of 29,000 signatories. Inevitably, a compromise between Midi and the government will be found, but we need these NGOs to make sure we can shape that compromise.
A programme of restoration and use for the fort and the other existing buildings needs to be formulated. It would make a wonderful home for Malta’s Philharmonic Orchestra, and the School of Music. Give musicians and bands proper rehearsal spaces. Build a world-class concert hall. Imagine sitting on the fort’s iconic steps on that first true spring day, the strains of Vivaldi’s symphony drifting behind you, or maybe Brikkuni rehearsing a new album. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it would sure beat a fucking casino. And why not, open a seaside lido and water polo club with a fabulous restaurant, ‘cause who doesn’t enjoy a plat vongole by the shore, while watching broad tanned shoulders tossing balls.
An international transparent competition should be launched, inviting world-leading architecture studios to submit opinion-splitting designs. The Faculty for the Built Environment should set assignments for its students to be part of such a unique project; you never know where the next Piano & Rogers could be found.
If all of this comes to pass; if Bully-Bob does manage to wrangle back Manoel Island and Midi are somehow financially placated, the biggest hurdle I envisage would not to allow the government to design a public park that looks more like a fucking carpark.
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