Back in April 2017 Juergen Balzan from Malta Today wrote about Chris Cardona’s White Rocks project in an article entitled “White Rocks Project hits the Rocks.”

“Three years ago, Cardona said his political career was linked to whether or not the development of the former White Rocks complex in Pembroke would be successful.

“Development projects like White Rocks have been sidelined under previous Nationalist administrations, but some really strong investors have now shown an interest in investing in it and are linking my political career to the success of its investment,” Cardona told TVM’s . Reporter in November 2014.

In September 2016, MaltaToday reported that the White Rocks Development Company was expected to pay the government € 22 million for the sale of the land.

However, following the controversial agreement reached with the db Group on the transfer of land in St. Julian’s, the consortium is seeking better conditions than those discussed so far. “

The call for ‘Expressions of Interest’ was launched by Economy Minister Chris Cardona in June 2014.

Today, neither the realization of the project, nor that of former Minister Cardona are in sight.

In my first article for the Independent, in June 2014 I wrote about White Rocks and quoted a similar project in Northumberland, England that would have been ideal for the regeneration of the Complex. The following is an excerpt from that article:

“Closer to home, we can find a fantastic example of how to capitalize on the environment and regenerate a previously unmarketed region, repackaging for tourism consumption and for local social and economic development. This is the Northumberland NATIONAL PARK northeast of England.

John Riddle, chairman of the Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “The Sill – a £ 11.2m discovery center, is an ambitious project that will open up the Northumberland landscape, a hidden gem, to new audiences at national and international level. Our goal is to create an educational building and awareness program that transforms how people experience, enjoy, understand and care for the landscape of the future. It will boost tourism spending while giving local businesses around the park a chance to show off what makes them unique. ”

The center, designed in partnership with the Youth Hostels Association (YHA), will also host advanced education facilities, outdoor activity areas, office administration, retail space and a coffee shop. local products.

The design will also be sustainable, made with local woodchip and solar thermal water heating.

When we look at a picture of the Northumberland project, our own White Rocks Complex site came to mind. The project, which was announced in 2010, mentioned a € 200 million foreign direct investment to turn the White Rocks into a sports and leisure village. Just to be abandoned before it starts, as the project has not given enough benefits to the country. ”

Since then, successive Labor governments have not even been able to maintain parks to a good standard and have even removed them where appropriate for road expansion. Any remnants of nature in the manner of trees and open spaces have been cut down, dug up, cut down excessively or given to the hunters ’association.

Projects like White Rocks are designed and redesigned so that they can benefit developers, not society or the future of children. Until the right formula is reached, ie real estate profit, the project stays on the shelf.

In any case, the career of former Minister Cardona has fallen on the same fate. Initially praised for his can-do enthusiasm and positive attitude, he became an example of new Labor and the Movement’s business in politics and cooperation with the sector.

Not only did the project remain in limbo but, in the meantime, the Maltese and Gozitan landscape generated only blocks of large apartments among urban residences, stole all their sunlight and distorted the infrastructure wherever they came out. Our towns and villages now face large parts walls and cranes wherever you look. No landscaping or open spaces between developments. Multi-complex only with noisy swimming pools set in what was once a quiet or historic village.

Roads have collapsed agricultural land, trees and dilapidated views with high developments without any respect for the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage and tourist value.

This third consecutive Labor victory will ensure the continuity of the ruin of the urban environment and the countryside, both in Gozo and in Malta. The oligarchs are renewed in their confidence and certainty that they have the green light to continue stealing. In the case of White Rocks, its chances of giving something of value to the public were sabotaged by the agreement given to db for its ITS project.

Robert Abela may think he has been given a stronger mandate but in reality it is the oligarchs who have come out laughing. Don’t take a look at Abela. All they care about is that the corrupt PA system ensures that their projects are delivered, despite all opposition and public protest. After all, Abela was there.

Abela could grow up and make his daughter a star candidate but as soon as the result was announced, the applications entered the PA and rose to another level. Some adjustments to the plans may have to be made, more due to glut or the wrong product for the market than to the disgrace in some projects. But even so, developers can afford to stay on the applications for a while until the right market grows.

So, as I started, so I go, with my piece on the White Rocks. After more than 7 years of contributions to the Independent I will say au revoir to my loyal readers. Thanks for your esteemed feedback and interaction. I hope I have been able to present some valuable analysis and opinions.

We hope that after Covid and the ongoing discrimination against the independent press, excluded from doing their job as best they can due to lack of freedom of information and blatant insult to the public when the Prime Minister Minister and his cabinet fail to be. be held accountable, turn away and choose Party stations and the press to present interviews of national interest and avoid journalists asking them necessary but awkward questions, some justice and fairness can win.

Since the Labor Party came to power in 2013, Malta’s press freedom ranking has fallen by a staggering 36, from 45 in 2013 to 77 in the UK. 2019, losing 4 more places in 2020 and placing the country in 81st place according to RSF (Reporters Without Borders Index).

It seems that the Maltese are happier to have a teleshopping TV that sells face creams and bed spreads than a national broadcaster which is not actually One 2.0.

We know that whenever Robert Abela is uncomfortable with adults, he always has 55% recourse to insurance. It never matters that it is only 48% of the entire voting population. He has his mandate.