Back in April 2017 Juergen Balzan from the Malta Today wrote about Chris Cardona’s White Rocks project in an article entitled “White Rocks Project hits the Rocks.”

“Three years ago, Cardona said his political career was tied with whether the development of the former White Rocks complex in Pembroke proves to be a success or not. 

“Development projects such as White Rocks had been shelved under previous Nationalist administrations, but some really strong investors have now shown interest in investing in it and I am tying my political career with the success of its investment,” Cardona said on TVM’s Reporter in November 2014.

In September 2016, MaltaToday reported that White Rocks Development Company was expected to pay the government €22 million for the sale of the land.

However, following the controversial deal reached with the db Group over the transfer of land in St Julian’s, the consortium is reportedly seeking better conditions than the ones discussed so far.”

The call for 'Expression of Interest' was launched by economy minister Chris Cardona in June 2014.

Today, neither a realisation of the project, nor of the ex-Minister Cardona are in sight.

In my first article for the Independent, in June 2014 I had written about White Rocks and quoted a similar project in Northumberland in England which would be ideal for the regeneration of the Complex.  The following is an excerpt from that article:

“Closer to home, we can find a marvellous example of capitalizing on the environment and regenerating a previously un-marketed region, repackaging it for tourist consumption and for local social and economic development.  This is the Northumberland National Park in the North-east of England.

John Riddle, the chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “The Sill – an £11.2m discovery centre, is an ambitious project which will open up the Northumbrian landscape, a hidden gem, to new audiences on a national and international level.  Our aim is to create a building and educational outreach programme which will transform how people experience, enjoy, understand and care for the landscape of the future.  It will boost tourism spend whilst giving local businesses across the park the chance to showcase what makes them unique.”

The centre, designed in partnership with the Youth Hostels Association (YHA), will also house state-of-the-art education facilities, outdoor activity areas, office administration, retail space and a café’ for local produce. 

The design will also be sustainable, made with local woodchip and solar thermal water heating. 

Looking at a picture of the Northumberland project, our own White Rocks Complex site came to mind.  The project which had been announced in 2010 mentioned a €200 million foreign direct investment to turn White Rocks into a sports and leisure village.  Only to be abandoned before starting, as the project did not yield enough benefits for the country. ”

Since then, successive Labour governments have not even been able to maintain parks to a good standard and have even done away with them where expedient for road expansion.  Any vestige of nature in the way of trees and open spaces has been chopped, dug-up, excessively pruned or awarded to the hunters’ association.   

Projects such as the one at White Rocks are designed and re-designed so that they can benefit developers, not society or children’s future.  Until the right formula is achieved, meaning profit from real estate, the project stalls and remains on the shelf. 

In any case, ex-Minister Cardona’s career fell on the same fate.  Initially praised for his enthusiasm and positive can-do attitude, he became an example of new Labour and the Moviment’s business in politics and cooperation with the sector. 

Not only though has the project remained in limbo but, in the meantime, the Maltese and Gozitan landscape has generated only gross apartment blocks amongst urban dwellings, stealing all their sunlight and distorting the infrastructure wherever they cropped up.  Our towns and villages now face huge party walls and cranes wherever you look.  No landscaping with trees or open spaces in between developments.  Only multi-complexes with noisy swimming pools set in what was a quiet or historical village. 

Roads have gobbled up agricultural land, trees and views spoilt with high-rise developments without any respect to preserve the cultural heritage and touristic value of the country.

This third consecutive win for Labour will ensure the continuity of the ruin of the urban and country environment, both in Gozo and in Malta.  The oligarchs are renewed in confidence and certainty that they have a green light to continue to plunder.  In the case of White Rocks, its chances to give something of value to the public, were sabotaged by the deal given to db for his ITS project.

Robert Abela may think that he has been given a stronger mandate but in truth it is the oligarchs that have come out laughing.  They don’t give a hoot about Abela.  All they care is that the corrupt system at the PA will ensure their projects are delivered, notwithstanding any opposition and protest from the public.  After all, that is where Abela was made. 

Abela can tear-up and make his daughter a star candidate but the minute the result was announced, the applications went flying in to the PA and notched up another level.  Some adjustments to plans may have to be made, more due to the glut or the wrong product for the market rather than because of the outrage at certain projects.  But even so, the developers can afford to sit on applications for a while until the right market is grown.

So, as I began, so I go, with my piece on the White Rocks.  After more than 7 years of contributions to the Independent I will say au revoir to my faithful readers.  Thank you for your valued feed-back and interaction.  I hope I have been able to present some worthwhile analysis and opinions. 

Let us hope that after Covid and the discrimination being shown towards the independent press, excluded from doing their jobs as best they can due to the lack of freedom of information and the blatant insult to the public when the Prime Minister and his cabinet fails to be held to account, turning away and choosing the Party stations and press to present interviews of national interest and avoiding journalists that ask them necessary but uncomfortable questions, some fairness and justice can prevail.

Since the Labour Party came into power in 2013, Malta’s press freedom ranking plummeted a staggering total of 36 places, from number 45 in 2013 to number 77 in 2019, and losing a further 4 places in 2020 placing the country at 81 according to RSF (Reporters without Borders) index.

It would seem that the Maltese are happier to have teleshopping TV selling face creams and bed spreads than a national broadcaster that actually isn’t a One 2.0.

We know that anytime Robert Abela is uncomfortable amongst the adults, he always has the 55% to turn to for assurance.  Never mind that it is only 48% of the whole voting population.  He has his mandate.