Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545856
12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 JULY 2026 NEWS Graffitti urges Abela to honour Manoel Island promise ahead of padel court decision MOVIMENT Graffitti called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to honour his promise to turn Manoel Island into a national park as the Planning Board pre- pares to decide whether to sanction 20 illegally installed padel courts on the is- land. The NGO said it would attend the Plan- ning Board hearing on Thursday, 16 July, and pledged to defend a vision of Manoel Island that prioritises the public good over commercial interests. "What of Robert Abela, who just two months ago proclaimed Manoel Island public with such pomp, with Lands Min- ister Owen Bonnici by his side?" the NGO asked. The application concerns a 6,700sq.m site at the former Nicholl Ground, where 20 padel courts have already been installed without the PA's permission. According to the case officer's report, the site could eventually accommodate 30 courts. The application seeks permission for the "reinstatement" of the former ground as a sports facility with variable sporting uses and demountable glass structures. It al- so seeks the retrospective sanctioning of works already carried out on site. The case officer has recommended ap- proving the application and regularising the illegal development through a sanc- tioning fine calculated at €900. Moviment Graffitti said granting busi- nessman and Gżira United FC president Sharlon Pace permanent use of the site would undermine Abela's recently an- nounced vision for a public national park on Manoel Island. It warned that the prime minister's vision for the island would "go up in smoke" if the Planning Authority allowed Pace to retain control of the 6,700sq.m area. The illegal works were first flagged by members of the public in March. Movi- ment Graffitti said Pace had acknowledged having a personal business interest in Mal- ta's padel industry. "This padel complex was built illegally and later sanctioned by the PA," the NGO said. "It is perhaps no wonder, then, that the PA's case officer took only two days to brush off the scores of objections filed by the public and recommend Pace's illegal Manoel Island complex for approval." The PA had been due to decide on the application on 21 May but postponed the hearing at applicant's request. Moviment Graffitti noted that the original hearing had been scheduled during election week. Pace claimed that his lawyer was unable to attend. The NGO argued that the development does not respond to the needs of Gżira res- idents and conflicts with the public's vision for the island. "A commercial padel complex is not the football ground the Gżira community has been asking for," it said. "Nor is it compat- ible with the vision of Manoel Island as a non-commercial space for public wellbe- ing, which the public has expressed both through our campaign and through Pro- ject Green's public consultation exercise." Moviment Graffitti has also previously raised concerns over Pace's links with PA chief executive Johann Buttigieg, claiming that the two participated in the Charter Club Cup padel tournament at Pace's IK Padel Village in Pembroke. The organisation said fines were insuffi- cient, regardless of their value, and called for the "deceitful" application to be refused outright rather than granted the govern- ment's "blessing of permanence." EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt 20 padel courts have already been illegally constructed EP committee approves act to improve access and affordability of medicines in Malta THE European Parliament's Committee on Public Health has approved the European Critical Medicines Act. The legislation, which includes amendments proposed by Mal- tese MEP Peter Agius aimed at improving access and afforda- bility of medicines in Malta. The proposed legislation is in- tended to reduce disparities in access to medicines across the EU by supporting the supply of medicines considered to be of common European interest, particularly in smaller markets where availability is more lim- ited. Among the amendments in- cluded in the approved text is a mechanism allowing Malta to participate in joint procure- ment schemes with at least four other EU member states. The measure is designed to increase purchasing power and help smaller countries negotiate bet- ter prices for medicines. Agius said Malta's small mar- ket contributes to higher med- icine prices and more limited access to certain treatments compared with larger coun- tries. He said the joint procure- ment mechanism would help secure more competitive prices and improve access to innova- tive medicines for Maltese pa- tients. The regulation also provides for collaborative procurement arrangements intended to make smaller member states more attractive markets for pharma- ceutical suppliers. The legislation requires pharmaceutical companies re- ceiving EU or national public funding to prioritise the supply of medicines to the European market. Agius said the Critical Med- icines Act, together with the forthcoming Pharmaceutical Package, would contribute to a more reliable supply of med- icines and lower costs for pa- tients in Malta. The Malta Health Network welcomed the committee's ap- proval of the proposal. KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt The measure is designed to increase purchasing power and help smaller countries negotiate better prices for medicines