Regenerating the Grand Harbour

The Grand Harbour is without a doubt one of our most prominent national landmarks. It is a showcase of history, culture and identity. It has witnessed a long series of historic events. It is a symbol of our ancestors' bravery, struggle for freedom and value given to peace. It reminds of hard times and prosperity. If the bastions could talk they would recount the building of a nation through thick and thin.

Last week the government announced that 20 capital projects would be launched to regenerate the Grand Harbour area, another initiative that will develop the potential of one of the most picturesque places on our islands and revive the beautiful characteristics of this historic and cultural region. The initiative will also contribute towards making good use of the neglected areas and wasteland that surround this monument.

The strategy for regeneration was drawn up after numerous studies were carried out on famous examples such as the London Docklands, Marseilles and Hamburg, all of which, until a few years ago, were considered depleted areas in their respective countries. It is a follow-up to the various projects in progress in the towns and cities of the area.

Among them, particularly in the three cities, intensive social work programmes are underway that assist needy families in the southern harbour area. One such programme is the Cottonera Community Team. The team works with people residing in Cottonera and Kalkara by offering social work and community improvement services. The unit gives support to children, families and individuals in need by encouraging and empowering them to improve their quality of life. The service lends assistance to persons encountering difficulties in their everyday life, such as family and marital difficulties, problems to do with child rearing, mental health problems and those that involve employment, housing, disability and old age.

Another socially oriented project that operates in the area is the Access community resource centre. The main aim of the centre is to make it easier for the residents of Cottonera and Kalkara to access a number of related services in an integrated manner. The centre also offers facilities for residents to hold their activities, such as parental skills training, meetings of young people to plan social initiatives, exhibitions, cultural and sporting events and others. Free internet access for local residents, a number of training courses such as in literacy and IT skills and the use of a small library with literacy resources are also available to the community.

Another project whose direct beneficiaries will be children from the Southern Harbour region is the new college being built in place of the old Verdala Lyceum. Works are at an advanced state. The new school will form part of the Cottonera College that includes the Senglea, Victoriosa, Cospicua, Kalkara, Zabbar and Xghajra primary schools together with Lorenzo Gafa' and Eric Serracino Inglott secondary schools.

When completed, the school will be able to host 1,000 students and will be equipped with 45 classrooms, three staff rooms, eight science labs, seven technology labs, six computer labs and further facilities that will turn school life into an unforgettable experience.

The government has not forgotten the families of Cottonera in its regeneration plans. In April, a depleted area notorious for its shadowy activities was transformed into a family-friendly garden. The project included the planting of 400 trees, a play area for children, a brand new lighting system as well as furnishing the garden with a gazebo and benches. The Cottonera Garden is another investment to benefit the local community, amounting to Lm250,000.

Another project, which will generate quality jobs in the area, is SmartCity based in Kalkara. The foreign investment of over $300 million will generate more than 5,000 jobs.

The projects carried out by the Nationalist Party in government over the last few years have given a facelift to the once neglected Cottonera region. More needs be done and this will be achieved with the 20 planned projects for the whole Grand Harbour region.

This presents a stark contrast to the way the Malta Labour Party treated the area, traditionally a Labour Party stronghold were the only work carried out was for political gain.

Back in 2003, when the Nationalist Party won the general election, it promised to give Cottonera and the Grand Harbour their much-deserved status. This is being done. The region nowadays attracts Maltese and foreigners alike for entertainment, giving them a vivid experience of our islands and an encounter with the history, culture and identity of the Maltese people.

This confirms that the Nationalist government is a government for the whole nation. One need only compare the Cottonera of the 1980s with the Cottonera of today.

david.casa@europarl.europa.eu, www.davidcasa.eu