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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 FEBRUARY 2021 A welcome precedent for development in Malta Editorial FOR better or worse, the 30-year-old Manoel Island saga seems to be drawing to a close. This week, developers MIDI plc published a revised master plan, through which it emerges that the com- pany has relinquished its own development rights – in this case, considerably reducing the footprint of new buildings from 26% to 10%, and increasing open spaces from 161,000sq.m to 192,000sq.m. This is certainly not the first time that developers have sought to appease the public, by juggling aspects of a particular project's design; but on this occasion, the concessions made by MIDI plc go considerably beyond the usual cosmetic alterations we have grown accustomed to. Perhaps, after years of criticism for over-develop- ing Tigné, MIDI now feels it is obliged to at least give something back to the community: a step which also enhances its reputation. Whatever the reason, however: as things stand now, the number of apartments has been reduced from 610, as foreseen in a 2019 permit, to less than 300. Land rec- lamation facing the promenade has been excised from the project, and public spaces have been increased and enhanced. In a significant break with tradition, MIDI has not opted for higher buildings to compensate for the loss of floor space. Where an 8,000sq.m reduction in the project footprint, proposed in 2019, had been 'com- pensated' by a controversial swap, permitting MIDI to further over-develop Tigné; this time round, the re- duction of 37,000sq.m from the 1999 deed comes with no strings attached. The developers have simply relinquished their devel- opment rights; rights that had, after all, been, acquired in a different political context, where environmental awareness was lower. Significantly, these changes will also be cast in stone, as MIDI will retain ownership of the airspace, thus ensuring that when properties are redeemed, the new owners will not be able to apply to increase building heights. This was confirmed by MIDI during a meeting with MaltaToday. So while MIDI's past track record in Tigné speaks for itself, and warrants healthy scepti- cism from the public, it is positive that the company seems to realise that the country's expectations have changed from 1999. In itself, however, this is unlikely to placate all op- position to the project. While, ideally, Manoel Island should have been declared a national park – and the government should never have relinquished this enor- mous space, for commercial usage – in reality, it is dif- ficult to redress this historical error. The 1999 permit for both Tigné and Manoel Island was, in a sense, also cast in stone: with the permit it- self being enshrined into the local plans. But at least, MIDI has accepted to engage with critics; and, unlike other developers – such as DB, whose changes to their Pembroke project left them with practically the same number of apartments to sell (divided in two towers instead of only one) – MIDI has actually scaled down its project substantially. On another level, the revised master plan also vindi- cates environmental NGOs who had not given up on the Manoel Island campaign. While many argued that it was a lost cause, the perseverance of Flimkien Ghall Ambjent Ahjar and Inhobbu l-Gzira (which collected 9,000 signatures to turn Manoel Island into a national park) has to be recognised, too. In fact, the project was only sent back to the draw- ing board thanks to a crowdfunded appeal against the permit issued in 2019. For it was the revocation of the permit by the EPRT appeals tribunal which triggered the changes. A lot is also owed to the contribution of the Gzira may- or Konrad Borg Manché and environmentalist lawyer Claire Bonello, who have given their input in the guard- ianship foundation which is responsible for ensuring that MIDI's commitments are respected. Moreover, it was also thanks to a direct action campaign spearhead- ed by Moviment Graffitti, and supported by the mayor, that access to the coastline was secured. Lastly, the master plan also vindicates the role of the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage. MIDI in fact attributes the changes to the monitoring of the SCH, which resulted in the discovery of the remains of a British-era quarantine cemetery: as reported by Mal- taToday in June 2019. The SCH's contribution as bulwark against insensi- tive development has to be recognized, through ade- quate funding and resource allocation. Sure enough, however, MIDI could still have tried to skirt its obligations, by turning the historical remains into decorative items for their real estate development: as often happens in other projects. Instead, they decided to introduce a 35,000sq.m pub- lic open space in this area. If nothing else, this repre- sents a welcome precedent for development in Malta. 20 February 2011 No remarriage for abused spouses – anti-divorce head The chairperson of the anti-divorce move- ment Zwieg Bla Divorzju Andre Camilleri today claimed that women abused by their spouses should be made to separate, but not have the right to remarry. "Otherwise we would be giving their abusers the right to remarry and commit his abuse in that family," Camilleri said on Radju Malta's Ghandi Xi Nghid. "They should be allowed to separate, today before tomorrow." The startling claim was made at the end of the programme, in which Camilleri claimed divorce bill promoter Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had 'hijacked' the parliamentary agenda and even accused him of 'political dishonesty'. Camilleri said the MP hijacked the agenda but in an instant afterthought added that "he had every right to do it." "Every government is elect- ed with a programme, and that programme was read out by the President during the opening of parliament. Divorce was never mentioned," Camilleri said. "What we have is a backbencher who did not care about the agenda for this parliament, who decided to table this bill, and now the country's agenda is being diverted on divorce and also on the procedure necessary to hold a referendum. "The only party that consistently proposed divorce [Alternattiva Demokratika] was never elected. That is why the agenda has been hi- jacked," Camilleri said. He then referred to other bills, whose issues were also not part of electoral manifestos. "Pri- vate bills should move issues that are urgent and which are not in the manifesto. If we mention the bills in parliament at the moment, they are laudable," referring to the motions, not legal bills, on the black dust problem and the Mriehel overpass. Camilleri was unaware that the overpass mo- tion, which he praised, had been rejected by the government. "These are private members' bills of value… and not introducing divorce like a bolt from the blue, with the utmost political dishon- esty as the former President said," Camilleri said. Pro divorce movement IVA chairperson Deb- orah Schembri retorted by saying the alleged 'hi- jack' was possible in parliamentary democracies. ... Quote of the Week "It cannot be acceptable that a teenager who is caught with a joint is arrested, interrogated and has to appear in court or before the drug tribunal." Prime minister Robert Abela on cannabis legislation reform MaltaToday 10 years ago