Contract To Return Manoel Island, Fort Tigne To Be Published

Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Owen Bonnici announced that a resolution he tabled in parliament has been unanimously approved and will see the contract to return Manoel Island and Fort Tigne to the Maltese public fully published.

Bonnici said that this follows the verification committee approving the contract unanimously as proposed by the government. All that is left is for MIDI plc to internally review the contract with shareholders, and it will then be published.

The Minister said that this is an important step for the full return of Manoel Island in its entirety and Fort Tigne to be enjoyed by the people.

Earlier this month, the government reached an agreement to terminate part of a 99 year concession granted in 2000, which had previously handed control of the island to the developer.

The government secured a €43 million compensation, covering both zones to be returned to the public.

UPDATE WITH LABOUR PARTY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE STATEMENT:

A statement by the Labour Party confirmed that the Public Accounts Committee has unanimously approved an agreement between the Government and MIDI, which had already been cleared by the company’s board.

The move begins to undo part of a 2000 agreement, under which the sites were handed to developers by a Nationalist administration. The Government says the aim is to give the land back for public use, particularly for families.

One step remains before the deal is finalised, as MIDI’s shareholders still need to approve it.

Under the terms agreed, the Government will not pay anything for the land value of Manoel Island. Instead, it will cover half of the verified costs put forward by the consortium.

This follows negotiations between both sides, with the Government insisting on limiting how much public money is used.

The Labour Party has described the agreement as a way of correcting past decisions, while also pointing to the need to involve the public in what happens next. A consultation process is expected to continue, with families and campaigners being invited to share their ideas.

The future use of Manoel Island and Fort Tigné has been widely debated in recent years, with calls for more open space and public access. The final outcome will depend on both shareholder approval and how plans develop following consultation.

#MaltaDaily