Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534065
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 4 APRIL 2025 NEWS THE Coalition for Gozo has ex- pressed its surprise at the Nation- alist Party's response to its criti- cism of the party's spokesman for Gozo, Alex Borg, and his defence of an apartment and apart-hotel mega development in the historic Fort Chambray. The Coalition for Gozo - com- posed of the Gozitan eNGOs Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex, Għawdix and Wirt Għawdex - last week criticised Borg for actively pro- moting the project across var- ious platforms including social media, podcasts, and television appearances in which, the eNGO claimed, a number of misleading and inaccurate statements were made. "This includes the most recent appearance on a local Podcast where the final 30 minutes of the episode focussed almost entirely on the development of and on- going destruction at Fort Cham- bray." it said. "In addition to inac- curate comments from Dr Borg, the host himself made several inaccurate statements, including a claim that the Għajn Tuffieħa Knights' watchtower had been dismantled and rebuilt – an asser- tion that is entirely incorrect." Since last year's presentation of the developer's new plans for Phase 3 of Fort Chambray, the Co- alition for Gozo has consistently maintained that the proposed de- velopment – comprising a dense housing estate with 50 serviced apartments and 105 residential units within the Fort – is wholly inappropriate for a fortification dating back to the Knights' Period. Together with a large group of other NGO's, it has led a major campaign against the demolition of a historically important Victo- rian-era structure known as the British Barracks Married Quar- ters, constructed in the 1890s, the only one of its kind in Gozo. The Coalition for Gozo said it felt compelled to highlight and correct the "numerous mislead- ing statements and inaccuracies presented by Dr Borg" during his appearance on this Podcast in- cluding the following: 1. A claim that the Order of St John used Fort Chambray as a villeġġjatura – a resort or holiday retreat. "This assertion is entire- ly unfounded as Fort Chambray was designed as a planned city for Gozo to create a fortified urban settlement. However, the local population showed little interest in abandoning their established communities, and the project ulti- mately failed to realise its intend- ed purpose." 2. An erroneous statement that Fort Chambray was constructed in the 1800s, which is historically inaccurate, as construction began in September 1749 by the Knights and was substantially completed by the 1760s. 3. An assertion that, according to the parliamentary contract, the new developers are obliged to open Fort Chambray to the pub- lic. This is misleading because the contract in question clearly states: "... for the avoidance of doubt, that there will be no obligation to grant access to the public or to any person inside and within the said immovable properties for the duration of the emphyteutical concession …". Thus after the de- struction of the British Barracks, the remaining historical buildings comprising of the Knight's Bar- racks, Polverista and Naval Bakery would in all probability be closed off to the general public, the eN- GO said. 4. A claim that, under the new project, the Fort Chambray ditch will be restored and opened to the public in a manner similar to the ditch in Mdina. "We note that there is no reference to such a proposal in the parliamentary contract, and this assertion ap- pears to be based solely on hear- say, at best." 5. Borg said that the 'Local Plan' states that the Fort Chambray British Barracks should be relo- cated next to the Knights Bar- racks. "This is incorrect and is no- where to be found in GZ-Ghjn-7 of the Gozo and Comino Local Plan [GCLP], 2006." 6. An incorrect statement that there was "public misinformation" suggesting the British Barracks are to be demolished, coupled with claims that the building will be "relocated" in whole. "In actual fact, the plans submitted by TBA Periti and Studjurban to the PA clearly show that approximately 84% of the British Barracks will be demolished and only around 16% of the original building fab- ric might be dismantled and re- constructed elsewhere within the Fort." PN reacts Following the statement by Co- alition for Gozo, the PN released a statement in which it rejected "the false, misleading and entirely incorrect accusations being made against Shadow Minister for Gozo Alex Borg, in relation to Fort Chambray." The concession in question was approved unanimously by both sides of Parliament and concerns land that has long been earmarked for development, it said. The PN said that the sole com- mitment of its Gozitan Members of Parliament, as well as the PN's team of candidates in Gozo, re- mains to continue working in the best interests of the Gozitan com- munity and to safeguard Gozo's historical heritage. "The accusation that Shadow Minister Alex Borg is actively promoting the Fort Chambray project based on misleading state- ments is a clear misinterpretation by those assuming that his sup- port for responsible development equates to unconditional approval of every aspect of any project," the party said. "The PN has consistently called for a better outcome for Fort Chambray – a solution that strikes a balance between restoration, responsible use, and the public interest. As things stand, Fort Chambray is being lost." Misinformation? In a further reaction to the PN's statement, the Coalition for Gozo said it was taken aback by the PN's statement, which gave the impres- sion that it had been endorsed by the Gozitan MPs and all candi- dates contesting for the PN in the next general election in Gozo. "Hon. Dr Chris Said, along with PN candidates Norma Camilleri, Beppe Galea, Luke Said, and Dr Frank Anthony Tabone, have all signed the Coalition for Gozo's demand for the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) and the Planning Authority (PA) to schedule and preserve the 1890s British Barracks at Fort Cham- bray," the eNGO said. "For this reason, the Coalition for Gozo would find it quite strange indeed should these candidates have agreed to this statement by the PN. This, in turn, begs the question: were these candidates informed in advance about the statement issued by the PN, after all? And if they were, did they re- ally agree to it?" It also questioned why the PN would accuse it of misinforma- tion. "We will leave it up to the pub- lic and fact checkers in the me- dia to form their own decisions as to who is peddling the misin- formation. Is it the NGOs led by selfless volunteers who, at great personal sacrifice, dedicate their time and resources to protect Gozo and its environment with absolutely nothing to gain ex- cept the satisfaction of doing the right thing for the country, or the politicians from both sides of Parliament and the developers who, in their short-sighted quest for quick profit are destroying the very fabric of Gozo's heritage and history?" Without fear or favour - Coalition for Gozo on Fort Chambray and misinformation on project Photo of Fort Chambray (left) and a photomontage of the proposed development 8"; Uv@0a]qpUa_m pKT@mpTM Ra]]awU_Sv@I@_IUMm@v@U]@H]Mì /MIMipUa_Ump $RRUIMmmUmp@_p @p@_ply]Ml\ $RRUIM!@_@SMl If you're organized, detailû alUM_pMK@_KlM@Kypa[aU_@ Ky_@^UIpM@^ëwMw@_ppaTM@l Rla^yaqê ii]y_awï 0M_Kyaql8paTlĕKUv@^pêIa^