In an article which I wrote in The Malta Independent on Sunday, 21 January, 2024, when referring to the encroachment issue of the St George’s Basilica pjazza, I asked:

Where does the buck stop? 

The Lands Authority rubber stamped these permits which the Victoria Local Council did not amend or object to regarding accessibility to the basilica. 

Can anyone stand up and assume responsibility how and when the architect’s plan originally drawn up in 2007 has been totally overlooked?

It would be appropriate for the Gozo Diocese to air its views and insist on the right of all year access to the Golden basilica for all special occasions and emergencies. 

Six months later the situation was still at a standstill, with no one standing up to assume responsibility, no one coming forward to solve or sort out the mess created by the avalanche of permits issued by the Lands Authority, no one enforcing the permits that were issued, no one cared! 

The Basilica Archpriest Curmi could stand it no more and on Saturday, 15 June at 11am, a coalition of concerned groups including St George’s Basilica, Soċjetà Filarmonika La Stella, Moviment Graffitti, Din L-Art Ħelwa – Gozo, and the Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) held a press conference titled “Give Us Back St George’s Square” to reclaim the public space from private use. 

They emphasised that this is not an attack on businesses, but a stand in favour of the community and public rights. The square’s original purpose was to provide enjoyment for all, not to be dominated by commercial interests.

The right persons held this press conference, at the right time and at the right place. This occurred a week after the European Parliament (EP) and local councils elections, when they released all the results. This presented a splendid opportunity to discuss and reflect upon the outcome of these results. For certain, the Labour Party received a drubbing by Gozitan voters and lost its majority in Gozo to the tune of 50.6%.

I quote the late songwriter Leonard Cohen:

there’s a crack in everything,

that’s how the light gets in.

The local council election result caused a crack in the ivory towers of several government ministers, and the light beaming in dazzled them and caught them unawares. Mesmerised by the stars, they suddenly felt compelled to look down. It was an unexpected fall, and they ended up on the ground which they had forgotten it exists.

Now we know where the buck stops. On 18 June 2024, Minister for Lands Authority Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi announced that the Lands Authority has started a process of renewing the master plan of St George’s Square in Rabat, Gozo.

In a parliamentary debate on the financial estimates of the Lands Authority, Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi said that the aim is to strike an appropriate balance between the interests of the public and those who operate in this square. He pointed out that with the participation of the Tourism Authority, work will also be done to address this reality in other squares in other parts of the country, so that among others, everyone understands what needs to be done to find a balance between all interested parties.

That is not all. Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, while responding to a parliamentary question from PN MP Albert Buttigieg, on Wednesday 19 June, admitted that the amount of commercial establishments in the square has doubled over the years, leading to confusion over which outlets are subject to the area’s master plan. 

“We must respect the needs of the parish and of the public in general. It is unacceptable that weddings, funerals, the ‘festa’ and other church activities are becoming difficult to organise because of this situation,” he said. 

The Gozo Minister added he spoke to his counterparts responsible for lands and tourism, as well as the new Rabat mayor Brian Azzopardi and the Archpriest of St George Basilica, with an aim to changing the master plan for the area. 

“A solution is needed, not just in St George’s Square but in various other places in Malta and Gozo,” concluded the minister. 

Ministers Zrinzo Azzopardi and Camilleri woke up from the daze they were in and realised that they had neglected the Giorgiani and now the voters had prompted them to shed their arrogance and settle down to clear the mess they had created.

Now they are aware there was a master-plan. But which master plan? The original master plan dating back to 2007 provided for adequate entry to the pjazza and access to the Giorgiani to carry out their functions, including baptisms, weddings, funerals and other special occasions at the golden basilica. Now, catering outlets are in every nook and cranny of the pjazza. The entrances are now blockaded with tables, chairs and umbrellas and this all took place with the blessing of the Lands Authority and Gozo Ministry not contributing a second thought that they were depriving the Giorgiani their divine right to attend the basilica.

This may be all empty talk from the ministries. They should at least have apologised for the hardships they caused to the late Giorgiani and are still causing to the present basilica followers. Officials from the ministries issued instructions to the enforcement teams that visited the pjazza for spot checks and directed them to turn back. Now what’s next? 

In order to reconsider the master-plan they have to revert to how the pjazza was ten years ago and revoke several of the permits awarded since then. Are they willing and capable of doing it? I have my serious doubts. These may be only delaying tactics so the voters may forget and trust them again with their votes in three years’ time. But I am certain the Basilica archpriest and it may be appropriate to have the backing of the Gozo Diocese to keep standing firm on their demand and the right to have unrestricted access to the golden basilica. 

Will this crack provoked by voters widen or am I daydreaming? Time will tell. Ministers have a race against time; they cannot afford to neglect the voters anymore. The voters have expressed their frustration, next general election in three years’ time they will decide!