Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit yesterday opened Gnien il-Kottonera, Bormla at Cospicua.

However, the opening was marred by an ongoing controversy between the government and Cospicua local council – who boycotted the event – over the name of the garden and its four public squares. The mayor contends that the name Cospicua is only used in a derogatory way, while government projects in the city always bear the name “Cottonera”.

In a public discussion held in the garden, Dr Gonzi said the name of the garden is important but not as much as the substance. “And the substance is that the garden will make a difference in the lives of residents,” he said. The garden is one of the largest green areas in the islands, he said, and has provided a better environment.

He explained that Cospicua is the heart of Cottonera, and Senglea and Vittoriosa are its two outstretched arms. Dr Gonzi said he also considers Xghajra, Fgura and Kalkara to be part of Cottonera.

The prime minister said the south of Malta, especially Cottonera, has given a lot to the country, has even suffered, yet has gained very little. “Whether it was the Second World War, or industry that has provided thousands of jobs but has had certain effects,” said the prime minister, “the area has always suffered. Now is the time to give something back to this area, which is the cradle of our country’s culture, he said.

Government has invested several million liri in projects in Cospicua, said Dr Gonzi, citing the Cottonera Sports Complex, the old people’s residence, a new school at Verdala and the ACCESS centre. He explained that this project is aimed at tackling social problems in the area and is being studied by people from abroad as being the best way of going about solving similar problems in other countries.

The latest project in the area, said the Prime Minister, is the SmartCity project, which will create a minimum of 5,600 jobs, 2,000 outside the sphere of IT. He explained that the project will bring also improved road and infrastructure to the area. To this end, he said, government will invest e63 million in a new drainage facility in Xghajra.

Dr Gonzi said he envisages a future in which Cottonera becomes a centre of activity, not just for tourism. He said that the government is also embarking on a restoration project for the bastions in the area.

Minister Ninu Zammit pointed out the 50 tumoli garden was previously used as a dump and had been used for illegal practices. The garden contains several pathways built along the topographic lines of the site.

Mr Zammit called for all political parties to be united for the good of the people.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, mayor Joe Scerri said the project was supposed to be carried out by the government in partnership with the local councils of the Three Cities – Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea – and Kalkara. In fact, the four councils were each expected to contribute Lm5,000 towards the cost of the project.

However, said Mr Scerri, the other councils had opted out of the project and Cospicua council had handed out Lm15,000 from its coffers.

Nine days prior to the opening of the garden, said Mr Scerri, he was invited for a consultation meeting with the Resources and Infrastructure Minister. Instead, he had been treated to an information meeting with a Ministry official at which he was informed that the project will be called ‘Gnien Kottonera Bormla’ (Cottonera Garden, Cospicua) and the four squares in the garden will be named for the Three Cities and Kalkara. Mr Scerri objected to these names as the area had always been known as ‘Il-Mixtla ta’ Bormla’ (The Grove of Cospicua). However, he was told that no changes could be made, because 25,000 invitations were being printed.

Mr Scerri said the council had voted almost unanimously in favour of his stance, and in fact the one abstention had come from the only PN councillor. The council had therefore sent a letter detailing its objections to Minister Ninu Zammit.

The mayor said he received a telephone call from the Ministry saying that the squares’ names would be changed, but the garden would still be called Gnien il-Kottonera, Bormla. On Friday the minister told him that the garden will be named ‘Kottonera’ in honour of Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner, to which Mr Scerri suggested that, in that case, the garden should be named ‘Grandmaster Nicolas Cotoner Garden Cospicua’.

The mayor complained that all government projects in Cospicua bear the name of Cottonera and Cospicua’s name is used only in a derogatory sense by the media, when they report news items of a sensational nature.

He added that the other local councils involved have all endorsed Cospicua’s claims and that they are as united as ever.