The Nationalist Party in Wednesday reiterated its stand that Fort Tigné must be accessible to everyone, as it forms part of our national heritage and should therefore be enjoyed by the Maltese people.

In a statement, the PN said it noted the offer made by the NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa to MIDI -  which holds the emphyteusis - for the Fort to be safeguarded in the national interest, and asks what the government is waiting for to commit itself in light of this latest development.

This is even more pertinent given the apparent national consensus, including indications given in recent days by the Prime Minister himself when he stated that it would be a shame for this historic heritage to be turned into a hotel, adding that the government is open to ideas for alternative uses for the Fort and will do everything possible to safeguard the national interest.

In the context of the many fine words and billboards about the need for more open spaces - public spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone - it would be appropriate for the same Government to intervene in line with all commercial obligations and return this historic heritage to the public, while naturally ensuring that whatever is rightfully due to the private sector is respected.

PN leader Alex Borg has already stated that should the government take steps in line with its commercial obligations to return the Fort to public use, it would find the full support of the Opposition, the PN said.

The party, however, cannot ignore the fact that even on this issue, the government of Robert Abela tried to mislead the public and was caught out in a lie. It was MIDI itself that exposed this when it revealed that, before seeking private investors, it had itself approached the government to negotiate the return of Fort Tigné into government hands, but the negotiations led nowhere. This is a clear demonstration of the government's lack of will for this Fort to truly be enjoyed once again by the public as an open space.

Unfortunately, as he so often does, the Prime Minister tried to politicise this issue through statements by which he attempted, in some way, to shift responsibility onto previous administrations, when in reality, in January 2000 the vote was unanimous and the Labour Opposition at the time voted in favour.

The PN called on the Prime Minister to stop wasting his time attacking the Opposition and, without further delay, to state whether he agrees with the €2.5 million offer made by Din l-Art Ħelwa for the Fort to pass into its hands, be preserved, and opened for public enjoyment. He should also state whether the Government will intervene and use its powers to ensure that this agreement materialises.

As with everything else, Abela must also tell the public what stage the Manoel Island National Park project has reached. Here too, the Prime Minister has for quite some time now been boasting and promising that this land will be returned to the public to be enjoyed by families, after being forced to yield to strong public pressure and protests. Yet, apart from the Prime Minister's assurances that Manoel Island will become a National Park, nothing further has been heard about how far the process has progressed, the PN said.