Tigné Fort must revert immediately to the Government control

Momentum calls on the Government of Malta to act swiftly to reclaim Tigné Fort in Sliema and ensure it becomes public property for all Maltese to enjoy.

Recent reports confirm that MIDI plc has entered into a promise of sale agreement with property developer Joseph Portelli for the transfer of Fort Tigné at a price of €2.5 million. 

Under the emphyteutical deed signed with the Government in 2000, MIDI is prohibited from transferring heritage assets, such as Fort Tigné, to third parties without prior government approval, and no such approval has been granted. 

The Government has previously invested in cultural and community assets for the public good. For example, €9.2 million to purchase the King’s Own Band Club and €21 million to acquire other band clubs across Malta for local communities.

In the same spirit, the Government should immediately allocate €2.5 million to buy back Tigné Fort emphyteusis. This investment would safeguard heritage, ensure public access, and reinforce Malta’s commitment to protecting national icons.

Arnold Cassola, leader of Momentum, said, “Tigné Fort should not end up in private hands once again. It must remain in the public domain, preserved and accessible for the enjoyment and benefit of all Maltese citizens and visitors alike. If we value our history and community spaces, the Government must act now to secure Fort Tigné as a public asset, not a private hotel.”

Momentum emphasises that public heritage such as Fort Tigné, which is a historic fortification built in the 1790s, should not be treated as a tradable commodity and warns that converting the Fort into a hotel would deprive the public of access to yet another national treasure. 

Il-Gvern għandu jieħu kontroll tal-Forti ta’ Tigné 

Momentum jappella lill-Gvern ta’ Malta biex jaġixxi malajr biex jirkupra l-Forti ta’ Tigné f’Tas-Sliema u jiżgura li jsir proprjetà pubblika biex il-Maltin kollha jgawduh.

Rapporti reċenti jikkonfermaw li MIDI plc daħlet fi ftehim ta’ wegħda ta’ bejgħ mal-iżviluppatur tal-proprjetà Joseph Portelli għat-trasferiment tal-Forti Tigné bi prezz ta’ €2.5 miljun.

Skont l-att enfitewtiku ffirmat mal-Gvern fl-2000, MIDI hija pprojbita milli tittrasferixxi assi , bħall-Forti Tigné, lil terzi mingħajr l-approvazzjoni minn qabel tal-gvern, u l-ebda approvazzjoni bħal din għadha ma ngħatat.

Il-Gvern diġà investa f’assi kulturali u komunitarji għall-ġid pubbliku. Pereżempju, €9.2 miljun biex jinxtara l-King’s Own Band Club u €21 miljun biex jakkwista klabbs oħra tal-banda madwar Malta għall-komunitajiet lokali.

Fl-istess spirtu, il-Gvern għandu immedjatament jalloka €2.5 miljun biex jixtri lura l-enfitewsi tal-Forti ta’ Tigné. Dan l-investiment jissalvagwardja l-wirt storiku, jiżgura aċċess pubbliku, u jsaħħaħ l-impenn ta’ Malta li tipproteġi l-ikoni nazzjonali.

Arnold Cassola, il-mexxej ta’ Momentum, qal, “Il-Forti ta’ Tigné m’għandux jerġa’ jispiċċa f’idejn privati. Irid jibqa’ fid-dominju pubbliku, ippreservat u aċċessibbli għat-tgawdija u l-benefiċċju taċ-ċittadini u l-viżitaturi Maltin kollha bl-istess mod. Jekk napprezzaw l-istorja u l-ispazji komunitarji tagħna, il-Gvern irid jaġixxi issa biex jiżgura l-Forti Tigné bħala assi pubbliku, u mhux lukanda privata.”

Momentum jenfasizza li l-wirt pubbliku bħall-Forti Tigné, li hija fortifikazzjoni storika mibnija fis-sena 1790, m’għandux jiġi ttrattat bħala komodità negozjabbli u jwissi li l-konverżjoni tal-Forti f’lukanda ċċaħħad lill-pubbliku mill-aċċess għal teżor nazzjonali ieħor.

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