Din l-Art Ħelwa said Wednesday it is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the historic Maħras Ta' Tabibu in St Paul's Bay - believed to be the last surviving medieval look-out post in the Maltese Islands.

Reports that the structure has become so unstable that it has been cordoned off by the Police due to the risk of collapse should serve as a serious wake-up call to the authorities.

Parts of the roof have already caved in. Long before the Order of the Knights of St John established its celebrated chain of coastal towers, the Maltese Islands were protected by a network of maħras - lookout posts constructed during the 14th or 15th centuries from which sentinels kept watch over the coastline against enemy incursions. These early warning stations formed the first line of defence for Malta, with guards using bonfires and other means, including the ringing of church bells, to warn of approaching danger.

As far as is known, only one example of these medieval structures survives today: the Maħras Ta' Tabibu at St Paul's Bay, an area that was largely uninhabited at the time. Unlike other coastal lookout posts that were eventually superseded by the Knights' fortifications, this maħras remained standing even after Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt constructed Wignacourt Tower nearby in 1610. The structure is also known as It-Torri tad-Dejma, reflecting its later use by members of the Dejma - the Maltese militia responsible for the defence of the islands.

Its name Ta' Tabibu is believed to derive from a former owner who converted it into a farm. The surrounding area is of considerable archaeological and ecological significance, further underlining the importance of safeguarding this unique site. Despite its exceptional historical value and national significance, this unique monument is not included in Malta's National Inventory of Cultural Property. This omission is both inexplicable and unacceptable.

Din l-Art Ħelwa therefore urgently calls upon the Government, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and all relevant authorities to take immediate action to: Schedule the Maħras Ta' Tabibu under the Cultural Heritage Act without further delay, include the structure in the National Inventory of Cultural Property. Undertake an emergency structural assessment and implement stabilisation works to prevent its imminent collapse.

Develop a long-term conservation and restoration plan for the monument and its surrounding heritage landscape. The Government of Malta has repeatedly pledged its commitment to protecting its cultural heritage. Allowing what is believed to be the island's last surviving medieval maħras to collapse through neglect would represent an irreparable loss to the nation's history and a failure of that commitment.

Every day that passes without intervention increases the risk that this irreplaceable monument will be lost forever. Once it collapses, no restoration can recover the authenticity of a structure that has stood for over six centuries. Din l-Art Ħelwa urges the authorities to act now, before another piece of Malta's heritage vanishes through sheer inaction