The Coalition for Gozo composed of Gozitan eNGOs Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex, Ghawdix and Wirt Ghawdex, has issued a joint statement on what it calls the “deceit, duplicity and dishonesty” regarding Fort Chambray in Ghajnsielem.

Throughout this process, the Coalition for Gozo said that it had been “surprised to note that Dr Alex Borg, Shadow Minister for Gozo, has been at the forefront in actively promoting the project across various platforms. These include social media, podcasts, and television appearances in which a number of misleading and inaccurate statements have been made.”

The Coalition for Gozo said that it “felt compelled to issue this statement in response to the continued dissemination of inaccuracies, and, in some cases, outright falsehoods regarding the Phase 3 project at Fort Chambray, the destruction of the only British-era barracks in Gozo, and, more recently, misleading claims about member NGOs of the Coalition itself.”

It pointed out that “regrettably, due to the persistent nature of these statements, segments of the public have begun to accept them as fact.”

The Coalition said that since last year’s presentation of the developer’s new plans for Phase 3 of Fort Chambray, the Coalition for Gozo has consistently maintained that the proposed development – 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, and, together with a large group of other NGO’s, has led a major campaign against the demolition of a historically important Victorian-era structure known as the British Barracks Married Quarters, constructed in the 1890s, the only one of its kind in Gozo.”The Coalition noted that “in the most recent appearance by Dr Borg on a local Podcast, the final 30 minutes of the episode focused almost entirely on the development of and ongoing destruction at Fort Chambray.”

“In addition to inaccurate comments from Dr Borg, the host himself made several inaccurate statements, including a claim that the Ghajn Tuffieha Knights’ watchtower had been dismantled and rebuilt – an assertion that is entirely incorrect,” said the Coalition.

The Coalition for Gozo stated that it feels “compelled to highlight and correct the numerous misleading statements and inaccuracies presented by Dr Borg during his appearance on this Podcast” including the following:

1. “A claim that the Order of St John used Fort Chambray as a villeggjatura – a resort or holiday retreat. This assertion is entirely 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 ultimately failed to realise its intended 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 public. 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 destruction of the British Barracks, the remaining historical buildings comprising of the Knight’s Barracks, Polverista and Naval Bakery would in all probability be closed off to the general public.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 appears to be based solely on hearsay, at best.

5. Dr Borg says that the ‘Local Plan’ states that the Fort Chambray British Barracks should be relocated next to the Knights Barracks. This is incorrect and is nowhere 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 fabric might be dismantled and reconstructed elsewhere within the Fort. We say ‘might’ because the July 2024 parliament contract in section 2.1.1 reads: (f) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above, it is expressly acknowledged, recognised and agreed by the Government that the façade of the existing building known as the British Barracks, or part thereof, MAY be relocated by the Company or its successors in title and incorporated into the hotel to be constructed in the Hotel/Residence Site.

7. Dr Borg claimed that a ‘tower’ in a roundabout – now serving as the headquarters of Wirt G?awdex – was dismantled and relocated to make way for roadworks, giving the impression that the NGO was responsible for the relocation. This is both misleading and historically inaccurate.

(1) The structure is not a tower but the Dar il-Gvernatur (Governor’s House), a historic house traditionally used by the Governor of Gozo to receive dignitaries, including Grand Masters of the Order of St John, in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

(2) The building had to be relocated because it was structurally unsafe, as had been confirmed by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH).

(3) It was carefully dismantled and rebuilt in its entirety (unlike the plan for the British barracks, which will see some 84% of the structure demolished) just a few metres away on solid foundations, ensuring it remained within its original context. Even the building’s orientation was preserved. Each stone was numbered and reconstructed in its exact original position.

(4) All work was carried out by the Ministry for Gozo under SCH supervision. Wirt Ghawdex was not involved in the process and was only later offered the building as its headquarters. The official handover took place on 20 March 2016 – four years after the roadworks were completed in December 2012.

(5) Beyond all of the above points, the comparison of the two cases is also invalid and a red herring, for the British Barracks will be shifted for private profit, whereas Dar il-Gvernatur had been shifted for (a) reasons of safety and conservation, and (b) public road works. Moreover, Dar il-Gvernatur was in a very bad condition at the time, whereas the British Barracks are essentially pristine.

8. Dr Borg, as he has done in previous interviews and social media statements, once again gives the impression that the restoration of the Fort Chambray fortifications – and the significant expenses required to stabilise the clay foundations beneath the fort – will be undertaken and financed by the owners. However, no such commitment is found in the contract approved by the National Audit Accounts Parliamentary Committee, with Clause 4.1 of the agreement clearly stating that neither the company nor its successors shall have any future obligation to undertake further restoration or repairs to the fortifications, including to the underlying terrain, situated on any part of the emphyteutical land. Dr Borg in the podcast acknowledged that, should the new developers undertake any of the restoration works on the repairs to the fortifications, including to the underlying terrain themselves, they will be fully reimbursed by the Government for the expenses incurred. This stands in contrast to his previous statements where he inaccurately claimed that the developers would personally fund the works which in reality are being funded by the Maltese taxpayer.

9. Dr Borg implicated that the Qbajjar Battery – mistakenly referred to by him as another “tower” – was handed over to an entity that was supposed to “preserve” it and subsequently abandoned it. The only entity that ever applied to take responsibility for the site was Din l-Art Helwa (DLH), in an effort to preserve and restore the battery, and in October 2005, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage recommended to the Lands Department that the battery be entrusted to DLH, which transfer was never done.

10. A claim was made that the new developers forming the new consortium are constructing their extensive 155-unit housing estate and apart-hotel in line with the original vision (“vizjoni”) of Chambray. However, the plans submitted by Perit Antoine Zammit of Studjurban working for Dr Michael Caruana, clearly show that the proposed development will occupy nearly all available open space within the Fort, leaving little to no room for the original intended character or function of the site.”

The Coalition for Gozo and its member organisations concluded by saying that they “remain committed solely to the preservation of the natural and built heritage of our beloved island of Gozo. We would have preferred not to engage in polemics with politicians, but Dr Borg’s ongoing and unfounded accusations have reached an unprecedented level that can no longer be ignored.”

Photos: Daniel Cilia – Fort Chambray from sea October 6th, 2023; 3D Model of Phase 3 Fort Chambray by Studjurban; Fort Chambray on clay slopes

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