Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg said on Tuesday that Fort Tigné should be returned to the public and that the government should intervene to ensure that this site is not converted into a hotel.

Borg declared that the Tigné area has changed drastically over the past 25 years – from a state of abandonment and neglect to a “different story” nowadays.

He said that “there is a time and place for everything,” and that in today’s context where people are demanding for more public open spaces, “it would be appropriate for the Government to intervene in accordance with all commercial obligations and return this historical heritage to the public.”

The PN leader said that if the government decides to take the necessary steps for this site to return to the public, in line with all commercial obligations, then it will have the Opposition’s support. In his brief statement, Borg added that “what belongs to the private sector must be given to the private sector.”

“Let us move forward and unite for one goal and return our heritage back to the Maltese and Gozitans so that it can also be enjoyed by our children,” the Opposition leader said.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that Fort Tigné is “hands off” for development, and insisted that the historic structure must be preserved, effectively going against present plans for this site to be converted into a hotel.

Local NGOs have also come up in arms as of late to prevent this site from being developed, going as far as announcing that it offered to match the financial terms of the present promise of sale to take over the lease of Fort Tigné.

On 16 December, MIDI plc announced that it entered into a promise of sale agreement with J. Portelli Projects Ltd to sell the lease for Fort Tigné. The property forms part of the land granted by the Government of Malta to MIDI by title of temporary emphyteusis for 99 years in virtue of a public deed of the 15 June 2000.