Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/809226
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 2017 News 13 Speaker investigating missing MIDI contract document from parliamentary records MATTHEW VELLA THE Friends of Manoel Island legal team have revealed that an important document pertaining to the MIDI contract signed with the Maltese government is miss- ing from parliamentary records. The Speaker of the House has informed the NGO that this mat- ter will be investigated by the appropriate parliamentary com- mittee. The NGO is demanding scru- tiny into alleged breaches of the contract for the concession granted to MIDI plc, which de- veloped Tigné and has yet to de- velop Manoel Island, save for the restoration of the Manoel Island fort. "Reference to a bar chart outlin- ing the timeframes for the com- pletion of works at Tigné Point and Manoel Island is made in the Parliamentary Committee meet- ing minutes of 6th November 1999. "However, this document can- not be found, neither attached to the minutes of the Committee meeting, nor to the minutes of the Parliamentary plenary ses- sion discussing the contract. The minutes also state that works should have been completed by early 2010," legal advisor Claire Bonello said. "As we are all witnessing, the relevant phases of construction and restoration on Manoel Island have not been completed – de- spite there being strict time lim- its indicated in the 2000 contract. There are huge daily penalties for non-observance of these time limits. The document, which is mysteriously missing, can shed light on the matter." Bonello said the NGO had asked the Speaker of the House to locate the missing document which is reported in the minutes of the Public Accounts Commit- tee of November 1999, to have been laid on the table of the House. The MIDI group recently pre- sented their latest plans for Ma- noel Island, which NGO Flimk- ien għal Ambjent Aħjar said was a major departure from their 1999 proposals approved by MEPA, where the fort was to ac- commodate a fortress museum, an audiovisual visitor centre and exhibition gallery. "Conversely, this latest version of the Manoel Island project is largely a speculative project consisting of luxury hotels and yet more exclusive residential units, shops and restaurants. Fort Manoel, an outstanding ex- ample of French fortress design, is being taken over completely and exclusively as a hotel, de- priving the public of full access and enjoyment of their cultural legacy. The very fact that a pon- toon for water taxis was planned to be positioned in front of the Fort, betrays the foreign archi- tects' lack of appreciation for the fort's iconic Vauban design, as well as the public's access to the last swimming zone in the area," FAA said. FAA highlighted the fact that in MIDI's original proposals the only hotel envisaged was an apart-hotel at the Lazzaretto. Now two hotels within a stone's throw of each other are being planned in a zone which is al- ready heaving with hotels. "This unimaginative, specula- tive use is a huge disappoint- ment for the citizens of Malta who have long hoped that Ma- noel Island, in the heart of the conurbation that runs uninter- ruptedly from Pietà to Madliena, would be turned into a national heritage park. This would also become a strong tourism asset and therefore boost the econo- my." FAA also said that a number of breaches of the 2000 contract have been ignored by the au- thorities. "Since the signing of this con- tract 17 years ago, the context has changed significantly. Gzira and Sliema have been subjected to severe over-development, traffic is often gridlocked and air pollution levels are known to exceed EU limits. The solu- tion is to be found in the appli- cation of the Public Domain Act which ensures the protection of heritage properties that are im- portant for their architectural or historic value. Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar has officially ap- plied for Manoel Island to be de- clared as a Public Domain," the NGO said. "Scientific studies attest to the harmful effect that air pol- lution has on health, and the great health benefits that resi- dents derive from proximity to nature. Our politicians have long yearned to turn Malta into Dubai and New York. Instead Government should do the right thing and turn Manoel Island in- to a Central Park for the people of Malta." MIDI committed to project MIDI plc recently stated that it remains fully committed to the rehabilitation of the heritage buildings on the islet and "exten- sive provision" of leisure space and heritage walks, as it moved to apply for permits for an extensive shopping complex and a casino- hotel at the historic Lazaretto coast. The plans were immediately described as "completely unac- ceptable" by Gzira mayor Con- rad Borg Manché, who said the proposal would create "another jumble of retail outlets and com- mercialised space". MIDI wants to develop Manoel Island into a hotel at Fort Ma- noel, a shopping complex and a casino-hotel at the historic 18th century Lazaretto, retail outlets and luxury low-rise apartments, a helipad and superyacht marina, as well as taking over the foreshore to build a water taxi pontoon. Midi plc was granted a 99-year concession on the large part of Manoel Island in 2000. The deed envisages that 62% of the islet has to be dedicated to public open spaces, including the creation of an 80,000-square metre park, while 20% is to be dedicated to heritage buildings and 18% to new buildings. "The foreshore will be fully ac- cessible to the public and swim- mers," company secretary Gra- ham Fairclough said in a recent statement. Midi has appointed Jefferies International Limited as finan- cial adviser and PwC Global's Strategy& as a consultant for the project together with Foster + Partners for the conceptual mas- terplan. Midi plc was granted a 99-year concession to develop Manoel Island