The campaign “Manoel Island: A Place for Us” has backed a proposal by the Malta Co-operative Federation for a community-led management model for Manoel Island, urging the government to give the public a direct role in decisions about the historic site’s future.
The campaign, led by Moviment Graffitti and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, said a community cooperative could help preserve the island’s heritage while ensuring that decisions about its use are made with public participation rather than imposed through a top-down approach.
The Malta Co-operative Federation has proposed exploring a model that places the community at the centre of the island’s management, combining long-term preservation with democratic participation.
The campaign said this proposal reflected the vision developed through more than 200 hours of discussions during public consultation sessions organised as part of its initiative. The process resulted in a consultation response document outlining proposals for the Manoel Island Park and concluded with a public walk on the island on 12 October 2025.
“Today, Manoel Island belongs to us. Yet, it is not yet a place for us,” the campaign said, arguing that returning the island to public hands was only the first step towards making it accessible and beneficial to the community.
The campaign welcomed the decision to involve Heritage Malta in safeguarding the island, describing it as the appropriate entity to oversee the preservation and restoration of its built heritage.
It also stressed the importance of protecting Manoel Island’s natural environment, as well as its social and cultural significance. The campaign said it was awaiting the publication of the island’s masterplan, developed following public consultation and expert input led by Project Green.
Another key demand is that Manoel Island retains its non-commercial identity and remains freely accessible to the public. The campaign said any income generated through sustainable activities should be reinvested in maintaining the site.
However, it criticised the government’s initial actions concerning the island, arguing that these had included approving a profit-driven project based on land occupation and leasing Fort Manoel for large-scale events.
The campaign said the events held last summer had disrupted the site’s environment and did not adequately respect its cultural, natural and social heritage.
While expressing support for Heritage Malta and Project Green in their respective roles, the campaign argued that Manoel Island presented an opportunity to introduce a management model based on direct community involvement.
It said the effort to return the island to public hands had been driven by the community and that its future stewardship should follow the same principle, with residents having a meaningful role in decisions about its use and preservation.
The campaign is urging the government to take concrete steps towards establishing a community-led management structure, saying Manoel Island should be protected as a public space rather than developed primarily for commercial purposes.