In recent months, the national conversation around the importance of open spaces has been growing louder. I proudly form part of a government which announces the proposal of new pedestrianised areas - such as Manoel Island, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and the fort area in Mellieħa. This is truly a government which is acknowledging what residents across Malta have been demanding for years: more people-centred spaces and fewer congested environments dominated by cars. While these proposals are welcome, it is essential that the same attention is extended to one of Malta's most densely populated and heavily visited localities - Sliema.
For far too long, Sliema residents have been calling for a serious plan to create pedestrian areas that would restore some much-needed breathing space in this overcrowded urban environment. Specifically, zones such as Għar id-Dud, Fond Għadir, the area beneath the convent, and the Ferries should be prioritised for pedestrianisation. These are not fringe areas; they form the daily footpath and social heart of Sliema. Pedestrianising them would not only provide much-needed open space but would also significantly improve mobility, safety and access for residents and visitors alike.
Despite being promoted as a key tourist attraction, Sliema today finds itself overshadowed by years of uncontrolled overdevelopment. Once considered one of Malta's most attractive coastal towns, Sliema has steadily been chipped away, forgotten and pilfered by short-sighted planning decisions and unchecked commercial encroachment. What remains is a locality in complete disarray. It is more often than not deemed to be dirty, overcrowded and struggling to cope with the volume of people who live in, work in, or visit the area.
The state of the pavements alone is deeply concerning. Many are narrow, uneven or damaged, making the simple act of walking a daily obstacle course, particularly for the elderly, parents with pushchairs, or anyone with mobility challenges. In a locality that sees thousands of pedestrians every day, safe and accessible pavements should be a basic requirement.
Equally troubling is the gradual takeover of the promenade. Once the pride of Sliema, the promenade is increasingly swallowed up by kiosks, A-frames, private tables and chairs, ticketing booths and other encroachments. What should be a shared public space with open views and areas for walking, resting and socialising has been reduced to a cluttered and increasingly commercialised strip. This is not befitting of a locality that welcomes so many tourists or of a community that depends on these spaces for daily life.
It is worth remembering that the impressions tourists form during their stay in Sliema contribute directly to Malta's international reputation. The memories they take home - of congested pavements, lack of greenery, visual clutter and deteriorating infrastructure - reflect not only on the locality but on the country as a whole. For a place so heavily promoted for tourism, the mismatch between expectation and reality is becoming increasingly apparent.
Sliema residents are not asking for luxuries; they are asking for dignity, safety and a clean, liveable environment. After years of desolation, overdevelopment and dereliction, Sliema urgently needs a facelift - a comprehensive embellishment and regeneration plan that gives the locality the prominence, attention and investment it deserves. The standard expected in 2026 must be far higher than what residents are experiencing today.
A pedestrianisation programme would be a significant step towards achieving this. Pedestrian zones have been successfully implemented across Europe, revitalising local economies, reducing traffic, improving air quality and creating spaces where communities can breathe again. Sliema is more than suitable for such a transformation, and its residents have consistently expressed their desire for it. With strategic implementation, pedestrian areas can strengthen both community life and the tourist offering, making Sliema a more enjoyable place to live and visit.
However, pedestrianisation alone is not enough. Sliema needs a holistic approach: better maintenance, cleaner streets, safer walkways, more greenery, proper enforcement of commercial encroachment, and a long-term vision that prioritises quality of life. This must not be another piecemeal initiative but part of a wider commitment to rebuild Sliema into the modern, attractive and well-designed locality it should be.
Residents of Sliema have waited long enough. They deserve to see their locality uplifted, renewed and treated with the importance it merits. The transformation of Sliema would not only improve the daily lives of its community but would send a strong message that Malta is capable of creating urban environments that reflect care, planning and pride.
It is time to give Sliema back to its people. Serious consideration of these proposals - starting with pedestrianisation and a renewed approach to open spaces - would make a genuine and lasting difference.
Sliema deserves nothing less.