Fort St Elmo, neglected and falling to bits, will be rehabilitated as part of the government’s plan to regenerate the Marsamxett area and complement the government’s vision for Grand Harbour.

Investments Minister Austin Gatt spoke about the matter when he met representatives of constituted bodies in a consultation exercise. He stressed that every organisation should look at the projects holistically and that they needed to strike a balance between the needs of the port operators and the people who lived around the port.

Paul Abela, speaking for the GRTU, said the project should generate more trade in the zone, as had happened at the Valletta Waterfront, the Floriana strand and the Cottonera Waterfront. GWU deputy general secretary Gejtu Mercieca wondered if there had been an analysis of the socio-economic impact of the project on the communities in the area, and the workers who worked there.

Mr Mercieca also asked if the decommissioning of Marsa power station would mean a termination of employment of Enemalta’s employees there. But Dr Gatt said there would be no discharges due to the power station’s closure. Once it was decided how projects would be carried out, there would be an analysis of the socio-economic impact of each project.

Other representatives also took part, including Martin Galea for the Federation of Industry, Ruben Sciberras for the Chamber of Commerce, Vincent Tabone, for the Chamber of Commerce’s tourism section, and Gejtun Tanti for the UHM.

Joe Farrugia, for the Malta Employers’ Association, asked about St Elmo and was told that the fort would be rehabilitated as part of the plan being drawn up by the government through MIMCOL.