Cottonera's plight

Before the second world war, that is now more than 65 years ago, the Cottonera - the Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua - was the pride of Malta. The place was acknowledged to be rich in history, the residents enjoyed a higher than average standard of living, many professional and intellectual people lived in the area, population density was high and there prevailed a beehive of activity. It was a focal point as it used to attract people and commercial activity.

Since the war, and the social upheaval that followed, all that has changed. The mountain-top view that used to be enjoyed could not be maintained; the decline was consistent with very little hope of regaining former glory. The only major activity that has remained is the ship repair yard, but on a much smaller dimension than formerly. It has also become a liability.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Cottonera's air was highly polluted; grit-blasting was carried out in Dock No. 1, right in the heart of Cospicua.

One can state that the war was the region's watershed. Cottonera was nearly flattened; many important and historical buildings were destroyed or severely damaged by enemy bombs. People lost all their property and also their cherished possessions. Worse, the people who really gave a good image to the region fled and never returned. Hopes of regeneration have been receding; revival is not easy to achieve.

The people's innate feeling of these last six decades is that Cottonera has fallen victim to the political game. The Malta Labour Party traditionally had a huge majority and it might have been felt that there was no point in being concerned with the place when votes were assured; the inclination could have been that it was better to concentrate on other areas that were considered weak to improve the party's standing elsewhere.

On the other hand, the Nationalist Party might have considered the place as a political liability and that it was useless to put in political effort when the chances of making any headway appeared insignificant; in this case the inclination could have been that it was better to consolidate the party's position in other areas, hoping to compensate for this region's lack of support.

Given this approach, Cottonera was sandwiched between political forces that did nothing to improve its lot. Moreover, there was a time, particularly in the early Seventies, when people, generally dependent on social services, were encouraged to live in Cottonera, particularly Cospicua and Senglea, because house rents were extremely low compared to other places.

It can therefore be imagined what followed. Newcomers did not have any roots in the area, no sense of belonging. They were not really interested in the place except for cheap accommodation. The result: lowering of standards, no pride in the place, no appreciation of historical background; the melting pot became too cold to be effective either to raise expectations or aspirations.

Some individuals tried to focus attention on Cottonera's problems. I myself started to write in local newspapers to draw attention to Cottonera more than 25 years ago. Hopes of revival started to rise, but nothing really substantial came out of these efforts at first. Apparently, things are now changing. Foreign investors are interested in the area; Government and Opposition are now more focused on the Three Cities.

Government has stated that a Vittoriosa master plan should be ready by the end of this year and it should serve as a guide for the rehabilitation of all Cottonera, boosting the area's social and economic potential as a tourist attraction. Next year a plan for Cospicua, Kalkara and Senglea will be taken up.

The Opposition has set up a joint committee between the MLP and the four local councils of the area to cater for illiteracy, embark on economic revival, particularly through tourism, and organise recreational activities. This committee has embarked on programmed meetings with institutions, organisations and people who may directly influence and contribute to Cottonera's development.

One may question the underlying objectives of the Government and the Opposition. Government is taking too long to prepare plans for the regeneration of the entire region. It will take a further 19 months to complete both plans and no reference is made to their implementation. The problems are urgent and need immediate attention for the people are experiencing hardship in the meantime.

The Opposition does not have the means to implement a planned programme. It can only pressurise Government into action and entice private organisations and institutions into contributing their share for the region's economic revival and social uplifting of the people. It is also possible to interpret this new Opposition's interest in Cottonera as having ulterior motives. Perhaps its subtle objective is more political, now that Malta's prime minister is returned to Parliament from the Cottonera.

Nevertheless, whatever the reasons, efforts being made aimed at improvement are always welcome, as long as the people benefit as a result.

What is crucially important at this stage is that the people of the Three Cities should not continue to endure the stigma from which they have suffered for so long. They deserve better. Firstly, as citizens of Malta, they should be treated with respect and dignity; secondly, Cottonera contributed handsomely for Malta's welfare and security in the past and therefore it deserves special attention.

Some may say that social programmes, social services and an education infrastructure are available and accessible to all. While this is true on paper, it is obvious that available solutions do not reach everybody in the same way.

The problems in Cottonera arise because people generally do not enjoy self-esteem and self-confidence. There are cases when people do not really know about the rights and opportunities that can come their way. I am not surprised at all to hear Housing officials declare that response for housing applications is lowest from Cottonera.

Irrespective of master plans and campaigns for regeneration, all efforts for revival should be focused on people. It is good to improve literacy levels; but that involves a process and it may take years to reach targets. Concurrently with this goal, a more effective approach is to ensure that people's aspirations are directly influenced. This can be implemented without too much expense but with lasting effects.

Considering that Cottonera should be considered a special case, the best teachers, if necessary with more attractive conditions, should be deployed there to teach students and meet prevalent needs; extracurricular activities ought to be professionally prepared so that all students will be urged to participate. The school environment should be attractive, and teachers well dressed, polite in their manners and gentle when dealing with students.

The school should be a hive of activity after school hours, with parents and friends invited to take part in discussions, games, sharing of opinions. It is important that all the people, students, parents as well as other residents, should be aware of their glorious past. But, at the same time, they must be encouraged to mix with others, sharing life and experiences to widen their horizons. One must not be taken aback by initial failures. The road to success is tough, entails much effort but perseverance will provide a very good learning process that will ultimately result in full satisfaction.

If Government wants to invest in the place, it has to expedite restoration works. Cottonera is surrounded by history, housed with impressive fortifications and buildings. So far, No. 1 Dock has not become a centre of attraction. When people feel the pride of their historical surroundings and they are part of them, their attitudes change.

The determining factor, however, is socialisation because it contributes to greater awareness, self-esteem and personality building. Expectations and aspirations come about when standards increase and inner urges to discover new niches prevail. Malta cannot afford to ignore an area that could contribute immensely to cultural tourism. It cannot dispense with potential human resources development.

Dr Borda is an economist specialising in the economic development of small states