As Gozitan sunlight touches Fort Chambray's ramparts, this limestone structure above Mġarr Harbour - a silent witness to three centuries of activity, from past skirmishes to modern development - reveals a tale of shifting priorities. Conceived in 1749 by Knight Jacques-François de Chambray as an impenetrable defence against corsairs, the Order's diversion of funds to Valletta's port soon hampered its construction with carefully crafted indentations and cisterns. Later, British doctors transformed its vaults into a quarantine station, artillery officers stored shells, and post-independence entities utilised the grounds for storage - each era finding a public purpose. However, the privatisation process dramatically altered this.
Manoel Island, nestled in Marsamxett Creek, echoes a similar historical narrative. Fort Manoel, commissioned by Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena in 1723, became a baroque centrepiece overlooking Sliema. The British withdrew in the 1960s. In 1999, the State entered a long-term agreement with MIDI plc. A subsequent Guardianship Deed in 2018 mandated developer transparency, involving residents in oversight, yet development proceeded.
Fort Chambray, however, transitioned to private ownership more rapidly and with comparatively less public debate. An initial concession in 1992 gave way to villa projects by 2004, leading to the construction of apartments by 2006. After that, a significant period of neglect ensued, affecting various aspects of the situation. A 2012 permit allowed new construction, with work resuming in 2021.
In contrast, Manoel Island faced public resistance. Citizen-led mapping of seagrass, academic calls for responsible management, and local council demands for access shaped the island's trajectory. MIDI faces a 2026 deadline for eighty-five per cent project completion - a target now considered unachievable. Talks of returning the island to State control and creating a national park have emerged.
Meanwhile, Għajnsielem charted a different course. In May 2023, Fort Chambray Ltd proposed a development (PA 03884/23) including luxury flats, an aparthotel, and underground parking, raising concerns among heritage NGOs. Nationalist Party MP Alex Borg, Shadow Minister for Gozo, supported the plan as the most viable.
Parliament debated this proposal in July 2024 via Motion 275, potentially granting full ownership. Borg sided with the PN whip. He maintained investors would fully fund restoration. However, critics pointed out a clause where the Culture Ministry could reimburse some costs, which Borg dismissed.
There was a strong and immediate reaction from civil society groups to the situation. In November 2024, activists unfurled banners proclaiming "Fort Chambray belongs to the people." Even so, after an extended hearing the Planning Board gave the project the green light. Despite Borg's enthusiasm, activists raised funds and appealed to the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal in January 2025.
Manoel Island's "A Place For Us" e-petition, open 21 March-25 May 2025, drew 29,041 signatures - over five percent of Malta's population - urging Parliament to buy back the 2099 lease from MIDI, scrap luxury flats, restore the fort and create a car-free national park. Public sentiment flipped; Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Bernard Grech endorsed the park and steered Manoel Island toward public custody, while Chambray slid further into privatisation.
Ethics soon bore down upon PN Gozo Shadow Minister Alex Borg. On 7 May, 2025, the Standards Commissioner judged Borg had contravened the Code by presenting a "materially false impression" concerning restoration finances and suggested he offer an apology. He declined, thus forwarding the case to the parliamentary standards committee. PN strategists felt a sting: their most promising young deputy was now accused of misleading voters on the matter of heritage funding.
History casts a long shadow of personal liability. The Knights built Fort Chambray and Fort Manoel under charters connecting defensive walls with community well-being. They imposed taxes on grain, struck coins, and constructed fortifications, because islands exposed to the elements are liable to collapse. Legislators of our time carry on the weight of that same responsibility, a legacy passed down through generations of governance. Borg maintains that redevelopment equates to preservation because investors will support ramparts with reinforced concrete and place baroque copies on top of new facades; preservation architects counter that heritage cannot thrive behind reflective glass and pools without end. The permit even allows relocation of original barracks - an irreversible action that severs the tale of eighteenth-century siege design.
The Nationalist Party also bears significant institutional responsibility. Its ministers drafted the initial Chambray concession during the 1990s; its administrations praised public-private partnerships; its MPs now applaud Manoel Island's return to national ownership while approving Chambray's outright sale. Communities long for a consistent principle: either heritage prospers through collective stewardship, or speculative finances fuel conservation.
Activists suggest Manoel Island's guardianship model for Chambray. The agreement secures green spaces, sets height restrictions, and includes residents on oversight bodies. Indeed, MIDI did not meet deadlines; yet, the setup includes citizens and supplies legal means to recover land. Chambray is lacking in the defensive capabilities that other similar locations possess. If the tribunal rejects the appeals, the developers can proceed with construction whenever they choose, potentially reducing public access to a ticket booth.
Given the potential implications, should Gozo proceed with accepting this eventuality? Elders recall picnics in the ditch; restaurateurs imagine terrace meals; young voters weigh the value of heritage versus housing. Manoel Island's inflection point hints at another direction: lawmakers might reclaim Chambray, place its defences into a guardianship trust, and encourage adaptive reuse that respects both architecture and community. The Knight's Chronicle of 1749 notes that De Chambray "offered the fort to the service of God and the poor." This passage is a covenant; government and opposition can adhere to it only through complete public ownership and responsible administration, which values culture over earnings.
Alex Borg has one vote; however, he could support a shift that aligns Gozo with Manoel's precedent, ask for an objective cost analysis, release heritage bonds, collect bipartisan endorsements that safeguard restoration finances, and ensure indefinite free admission. He can also persist with the contract and risk being labelled as an agent for speculative investment. Either path will define his legacy.
The mortar is constantly being eroded by the salty winds that blow relentlessly against it. While the slow process of legal proceedings unfolds within the tribunals, the scaffolding outside, subjected to weather and time, steadily corrodes and deteriorates. The Gozitans check for updates on phones and are curious whether their children will walk those ramparts or stare through the gates of a hotel. Manoel Island illustrates communities reclaim areas when they persevere; Chambray remains undecided.
Maltese history illustrates that walls disintegrate when defenders argue, rather than unite. Citizens expect representatives who speak of patriotism to combine it with both humbleness and fortitude. A unified approach to heritage, rather than a fragmented one, is what's expected; a commitment to rectify mistakes, not reinforce them; and a shared responsibility, a common ground, for safeguarding Chambray and Manoel Island.
Fortifications, once defences, now stand as cautionary reminders. The very stones present stark choices: custodianship or dissipation, preservation, or exploitation, a sense of belonging or outright dereliction. Islands, naturally positioned as crossroads, cause decisive action over hollow promises. The artisans of the past shouldered their responsibilities; so too must present-day citizens and political leaders.
Imagine a future where Fort Chambray becomes a hub for workshops within its ancient quarters, and Fort Manoel comes alive with open-air concerts. We can achieve this vision, and with sufficient effort, we can realise it. We have a plan to realise this dream. It involves acts of guardianship, community funding, and political courage. Alex Borg and the Nationalist Party can implement the plan. However, inaction will only galvanise advocates, create delays, and lead to speed up decay. Unlike enduring stone, leaders must prioritise preserving our cultural heritage over financial gain.