Speaker to investigate missing MIDI contract document from parliamentary records

The Friends of Manoel Island legal team have revealed that an important document pertaining to the MIDI contract signed with the Maltese government is missing from parliamentary records.

The Speaker of the House has informed the NGO that this matter will be investigated by the appropriate parliamentary committee.

The consortium was granted a concession to develop Tigné and Manoel Island, although the latter site remains undeveloped save for the restoration of the Manoel Island fort.

"Reference to a bar chart outlining the timeframes for the completion of works at Tigné Point and Manoel Island is made in the Parliamentary Committee meeting minutes of 6th November 1999. However, this document cannot be found, neither attached to the minutes of the Committee meeting, nor to the minutes of the Parliamentary plenary session discussing the contract. The minutes also state that works should have been completed by early 2010," legal advisor Claire Bonello said.

"As we are all witnessing, the relevant phases of construction and restoration on Manoel Island have not been completed - despite there being strict time limits indicated in the 2000 contract. There are huge daily penalties for non-observance of these time limits. The document, which is mysteriously missing, can shed light on the matter."

Bonello said the NGO had asked the Speaker of the House to locate the missing document which is reported in the minutes of the Public Accounts Committee of November 1999, to have been laid on the table of the House.

The MIDI group recently presented their latest plans for Manoel Island, which NGO Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar said was a major departure from their 1999 proposals approved by MEPA, where the fort was to accommodate a fortress museum, an audiovisual visitor centre and exhibition gallery.

"Conversely, this latest version of the Manoel Island project is largely a speculative project consisting of luxury hotels and yet more exclusive residential units, shops and restaurants. Fort Manoel, an outstanding example of French fortress design, is being taken over completely and exclusively as a hotel, depriving the public of full access and enjoyment of their cultural legacy. The very fact that a pontoon for water taxis was planned to be position in front of the Fort, betrays the foreign architects’ lack of appreciation for the fort’s iconic Vauban design, as well as the public’s access to the last swimming zone in the area," FAA said.

FAA highlighted the fact that in MIDI’s original proposals the only hotel envisaged was an apart-hotel at the Lazzaretto. Now two hotels within a stone’s throw of each other are being planned in a zone which is already heaving with hotels.

"This unimaginative, speculative use is a huge disappointment for the citizens of Malta who have long hoped that Manoel Island, in the heart of the conurbation that runs uninterruptedly from Pietà to Madliena, would be turned into a national heritage park. This would also become a strong tourism asset and therefore boost the economy."

FAA also said that a number of breaches of the 2000 contract have been ignored by the authorities.

"Since the signing of this contract 17 years ago, the context has changed significantly. Gzira and Sliema have been subjected to severe over-development, traffic is often gridlocked and air pollution levels are known to exceed EU limits. The solution is to be found in the application of the Public Domain Act which ensures the protection of heritage properties that are important for their architectural or historic value. Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar has officially applied for Manoel Island to be declared as a Public Domain," the NGO said.

"Scientific studies attest to the harmful effect that air pollution has on health, and the great health benefits that residents derive from proximity to nature. Our politicians have long yearned to turn Malta into Dubai and New York. Instead Government should do the right thing and turn Manoel Island into a Central Park for the people of Malta."