Din l-Art Ħelwa today announced that it sent a letter to the Prime Minister on 19 December presenting a "concrete, constructive and financially viable solution for the future of Fort Tigné".

The organisation has formally offered to match the financial terms of the current promise of sale and to take over the lease of Fort Tigné. Its goal is to acquire the fort to preserve, restore and repurpose it exclusively for cultural, educational and community purposes making it accessible to all.

There has been no response yet from the Office of the Prime Minister regarding the proposal from Din l-Art Ħelwa, the NGO said.

The letter to the PM was sent following "alarming press reports" indicating that Fort Tigné in Sliema is subject to a promise of sale for private commercial development. Last week, MIDI plc announced that on 16 December it entered into a promise of sale agreement with J. Portelli Projects Ltd to sell the lease for Fort Tigne. 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.

The deal includes Fort Tigne', located at Tigne' Point, Sliema and includes the surrounding grounds and a divided portion of land at basement level also at Tigne Point, referred to as an unloading bay, the announcement read.

MIDI had said that the consideration for the sale and acquisition of the property is €2,500,000, payable in accordance with the terms of the agreement, with the final payment to be made on the final deed of sale. The fort was earmarked to be converted into a hotel.

In its letter, Din l-Art Ħelwa emphasised that the potential sale and commercial exploitation of this Grade 1 scheduled fortification would constitute an irreversible loss to Malta's cultural patrimony and a direct contradiction of the State's own constitutional and international cultural commitments. The fort was included by the Maltese Government in its 1998 UNESCO Tentative List submission for "Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta".

"Our offer stands," said Patrick Calleja, Din l-Art Ħelwa's Executive President. "We are prepared to raise the necessary funds to secure Fort Tigné for the Nation and for posterity. To allow a monument of potential World Heritage status to fall into the hands of a speculator is inconceivable and an abdication of the State's constitutional duty to safeguard our cultural patrimony. We call on all Government Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and Members of Parliament, political parties, industry leaders, intellectuals and most important of all, the general public, who are the true stakeholders in our national heritage, to make their voices heard in support of preserving Fort Tigné as a public heritage asset. Silence is not an option; it is complicity."

Din l-Art Ħelwa reiterated its urgent request for a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss this proposal. We remain hopeful for an early response and the opportunity to discuss a solution that fulfills the State's duty to protect our national heritage for the benefit of all.