Defending a community’s heritage the right way

Gżira gets its name from the “island” that lies in its midst – what we have for centuries called Manoel Island. (Before that it was called the Bishop’s island). The Gżira community has now been led to believe that the only way to protect its heritage on the island is to take it away from MIDI, who years ago won an international tender to restore the island and furnish it to be used in a modern way.

It is right and fitting that a community is roused to defend its heritage, although the Gżira community as a whole did precious nothing while the island was left abandoned after the British had left Malta and while it became a centre for drug taking, prostitution and all sorts of criminal acts. The government then issued a Development Brief for Manoel Island and Tigne and after an international competition and lots of legal arguments and meetings, MIDI won the international tender and a contract was signed. Again, the Gżira community as a whole was completely absent during these negotiations.

It was only last year – roused by the delays in the MIDI project and the complete ban of anybody from the foreshore – that the Gżira Local Council

Editor’s pick

and various activists succeeded in forcing their way through the barriers and opening up the foreshore to be enjoyed by the Gżira community.

Access to the foreshore has now been assured but now the local council and the same activists have initiated a different phase of the protest. Since MIDI last week unveiled an upgraded version of its plans for the island and included more space for business and commerce, the activists now say there will not be enough space for the Gżira community to enjoy the island.

In particular, for example, they saw that a boat landing space will be created outside the fortress’s main gate, that facing Valletta, and said this means that swimming will be banned from that area.

So the activists and the mayor are claiming that the delays by MIDI mean the contract can be torn up and the island reverted to the community. If they were to get legal advice, they would learn such a procedure is both illegal and impossible. If they are so sure of their case, what’s stopping them from asking the courts to rescind the contract?

But no, they have not taken the legal route, but have chosen instead the way of public protests and declamations. This, we believe, is not the right way to defend the community’s heritage.

A contract is binding and can only be rescinded if both parties agree to do so. Anything else is illegal and against the principle of private property, and the island, by virtue of its contract, now belongs to MIDI for the duration of the contract.

Moreover, as can be seen at Tigne Point, MIDI have upgraded what was also a derelict and drug-ridden area into a prime area of shopping and residences.

MIDI have spent millions in the restoration of Fort Tigne (and of connecting fortifications the existence of which was unknown) and of that gem that is Fort Manoel which has been beautifully restored to its former glory with war damage repaired.

There is still a lot of restoration work to be done at the historic Quarantine buildings. It is so as to finance this restoration work that MIDI has been forced to add more revenue earning buildings which at the end will only enhance Gżira as a tourist venue.

It is right to protect the community’s heritage but only if this is done in the right way.