Alien, invasive species of plants have taken over the monument at Vittoriosa.The Vittoriosa local council deserves warm congratulations for the way they organised Birgu Fest, especially the candlelit night which showed the splendour of the city: the overpowering majestic bastions, the Maltese workmanship, the architecture, the intricate sculptures, the winding streets, the renovated old buildings, and the growing public awareness of such a historical heritage. Unfortunately this cannot be said for the way the environs are being landscaped.
I entered through Couvre Porte, the magnificent covered gateway, admiring the surroundings. I crossed the bridge over the ditch, still in total darkness as to its future, at least from a public point of view. I wonder why no public consultations were ever held on such projects. Perhaps the minister would consider this before the works are done and public money spent, and not follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.
Once through the main entrance of Couvre Port, I climbed the 10cm or so high steps leading to the top of the bastions. I could almost relive the moments of such a historical architectural heritage left to us by the Knights of St John.
There, on the highest part of the bastions, something caught my eye: it was a caper (kappara) growing on one of the cordons, so soon on the freshly restored bastions, with defiance and a sense of victory. In the dim light, I could see the silhouettes of other indigenous plants which had also set foot on the fortifications: indigenous species which colonised these islands before man set foot on them.
The indigenous plants on the bastions echoed Rużar Briffa’s Jum irReb “Jien Maltija! Miskin min ikasbarni, miskin min jidħak bija.” (“I am Maltese! Pity the one who disgraces me, pity the one who mocks me”).
As I looked towards the Vittoriosa waterfront, the historic bastion rose as a background to a number of recently imported alien, toxic and some invasive trees. The never conquered Citta Vittoriosa lay at the mercy of these newly introduced foreign species, some also invasive, politically approved and publicly funded. How could one accept the fact that there at the foot of the bastions, exotic species had taken over the beds of the indigenous Maltese species, through the political apathy still accepting foreign colours to indigenous splendour.
I slowly descended the steps, seemingly so much higher now, and mingled with the crowds till I found my way in front of the St Lawrence parish church. Towering in front of the church on my left was the Għolja tal-Ħelsien monument, a reminder of the last foreign power to have a foot in Malta.
But even in the semidarkness I could see the monument invaded by more than half a dozen exotic species, two or three invasive. Two palm trees on the monument seemed to have succumbed to the Red Palm Weevil, an introduced alien invasive species. On my right along the waterfront leading to Dock 1, I could see other exotic species, some invasive, introduced from around the world, including the now ubiquitous fountain grass.
Could it be possible that the exit of the foreign powers opened the doors to the exotic alien flora and fauna, allowing them to set foot on the islands and grow on the very monument itself?
Landscapers equipped with a can of chemicals will no doubt be sent by their political master, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, to spray the indigenous caper and allies to oblivion, something which I must admit, they are very good at. But these are wild species and do not fatten anybody’s pockets. I am sure that the indigenous species will rise again, and again, and again in protest with the same determination, as one or two have already done at the newly renovated Mdina bastions, made more to resemble Windsor Castle rising out of an expanse of turf, so artificial and unnatural to a Mediterranean fortification rising out of garigue vegetation.
The lack of consideration for local biodiversity makes me feel ashamed that I am Maltese
As long as the people and the EU pay, who cares? Who would be that minister who, during his tenure, approved the introduction of the most exotic alien species, not excluding invasives, in the Maltese Islands at the expense of local indigenous species, in the name of landscaping? The wisdom of some politicians knows no bounds despite national and international obligations, and should I add electoral promises!
I walked heavily to where my car was parked close to St Helena Bastions – another jewel of the Knights of St John. Another gem of a historical heritage so conspicuous by its neglected and abandoned state. If only the funds coming from the European Union and public funds lavishly spent on the importation, advice, planting and profits made on the exotic trees, went to the restoration of such other gem at Cospicua, they would have been much better spent.
It was a relief to drive back home. But not before driving through a breach in the Cottonera bastion lines leading from San Ġwann t’Għuxa to Għajn Dwieli. The mismanagement, lack of planning and financial driving force in landscaping, with its negative social, historical and ecological impact, had ruined the enjoyable candlelit evening at the historical city of Vittoriosa.
The good thing about it was that the candlelit environment had hidden the look of disappointment on my face: the lack of considerations for local biodiversity makes me feel ashamed that I am Maltese, when this is appreciated more by foreigners than by the local politicians. When money grows on trees and it talks, there is nobody ready to listen.
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