A nationwide petition urging the transformation of Manoel Island into a national heritage park has officially closed with more than 29,000 signatures – representing over 5% of Malta’s population. Organisers are calling this outcome a powerful and undeniable mandate for action.
The petition, submitted to Parliament on Sunday, was launched as part of the “Manoel Island: Post Għalina” campaign – an initiative spearheaded by Moviment Graffitti and Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), and supported by nearly 50 civil society organisations, environmental groups, and community associations.
The public’s response was overwhelming, with thousands of signatures collected in the final 24 hours before the petition closed. The initiative gained strong traction across society, with public figures, artists, academics, and several politicians throwing their weight behind the cause.
Among the political supporters were former Labour Prime Minister Alfred Sant, former Minister Evarist Bartolo, and Nationalist MP Albert Buttigieg. The Momentum party, led by Arnold Cassola, also backed the petition with its own parallel campaign. The Green Party ADPD added its voice in support of the initiative.
Campaign spokesperson Marie Claire Gatt described the movement as a true grassroots effort. “Whether we were speaking to concertgoers, orchestral audiences, or students, the reaction was always the same – people immediately connected with the idea of reclaiming Manoel Island as a national heritage park,” she said.
Robert Louis Fenech, who formally submitted the petition to Parliament, said the time for decisive action is now. “This is a unique chance to prioritise our collective well-being. The cost of doing nothing is far greater than any short-term financial concerns,” he said.
At the heart of the campaign is a call for the government to reclaim Manoel Island and protect it as a public green space for future generations. Campaigners argue that the government has both the legal authority and the popular support to act.
Manoel Island was leased to the MIDI consortium in 2000 under a 99-year emphyteutical agreement that also covers Tigné Point. The contract includes a clause requiring the project to be “substantially complete” by March 2026 – a deadline campaigners say MIDI is unlikely to meet. They argue this gives the government grounds to revoke the concession and restore the island to public use.
MIDI, however, disputes this interpretation, citing delays beyond its control and claiming the project still requires 8 to 10 more years to be completed. The current plans include the construction of 323 residential units, the conversion of historic buildings into a hotel and casino, and the development of commercial facilities – plans that campaigners warn would drastically alter the island’s character and access.
FAA representative Jamie Mercieca stressed that this is a pivotal moment: “The renegotiation clause in MIDI’s contract is not just a legal technicality. It’s a real opportunity for the government to act in the public interest. With over 29,000 people backing this vision, the question now is whether the government has the political will to follow through.”
The campaign doesn’t end with the petition. Activists have pledged to keep pushing for Manoel Island’s future to be decided in line with the people’s will – and not commercial interests.
News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster
Leave a Reply