Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542585
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 JANUARY 2026 NEWS Din l-Art Helwa makes direct offer of €2.5 million for Fort Tigne to MIDI NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa has made a direct offer of €2.5 million to match the sale agreement terms for the short-term contract of Fort Tigné. "Our offer is straightforward and serious," said Patrick Calle- ja, Executive President of Din l-Art Ħelwa on Tuesday morn- ing. "We are prepared to match the commercial agreement presently on the table, but with one fundamental difference: our plan ensures Fort Tigné is preserved, restored and opened to the public." The NGO said they are offer- ing MIDI a route to achieve its financial goals while addressing a public concern. They cited Prime Minister Robert Abela's comment that transforming the historic fort into a hotel would be "obscene." The company had said it planned to accept the offer after long discussions with govern- ment. They also noted that it is un- derstood the government will utilise its veto power to prevent the eventuality. This €2.5 million offer is in- tended to match Joseph Portel- li's bid for Sliema's Fort Tigné Last month, MIDI announced that it would sell the site to Portelli's company. The prop- erty is part of the land granted to MIDI by the government on a 99-year temporary emphyte- usis. J. Portelli Projects plans to purchase the remaining 75 years of the site's lease to convert the historic location into a hotel. The NGO also noted that the Prime Minister has stated the government is open to ideas for repurposing the fort. The NGO said it is ready to collaborate with the government and pres- ent a conceptual proposal for Fort Tigné. Din l-Art Ħelwa's propos- al also guarantees the Grade 1 scheduled fort, which forms part of Malta's UNESCO Ten- tative List, will be rehabilitated exclusively for cultural, educa- tional and community purposes for this and future generations. The NGO called on MIDI to acknowledge the offer and to engage in discussions to take the matter forward. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt NGO Din l-Art Helwa announced it matched Joseph Portelli's €2.5 million offer for the sale of Fort Tigne Gustizzja ghal Artna campaign vows to continue opposing 'developers' wishlist' THE campaign against govern- ment's "developers' wishlist" re- forms will continue opposing the proposed bills, NGOs have stated. In a statement following Prime Minister Robert Abela's interview on Sunday, the NGOs behind the campaign said that contrary to what was previously believed, the reforms were not quietly shelved. Last Sunday, Abela defended the planning bills and insisted that they aim to "create stability." On Monday, the NGOs slammed Abela's insistence to give amnesty to illegal structures, even in ODZ areas. "While the Prime Minister has stated that the government will scale down the planning reform proposed in July, the campaign wishes to stress that since its last protest at the end of October, and notwithstanding repeated government promises, no infor- mation has been forthcoming re- garding the direction the reform is taking." The NGOs stated that in light of the misleading PR campaign sur- rounding the draft bills, Ġustizzja għal Artna can only conclude that the reform remains a threat to the planning sector. "The public is therefore invited to be ready to once again partic- ipate in collective action to fend off this unprecedented threat to our environment and quality of life." The statement was signed by the Ramblers' Association of Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Nature Trust Malta, Wirt Għawdex, Għawdix, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, and Front Żgħażagħ għall-Amb- jent. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Crowds in Valletta had voiced their anger at the government's planning bills (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)