The Gżira local council is to be congratulated for taking up the cudgel to defend the Gżira citizens’ legitimate rights of access to the Manoel Island foreshore. This right is determined by the universally recognised Roman law and enshrined in our Constitution. It has also recently been re-enforced in Parliament by the public domain law.

When the Vittoriosa marina was being developed by a consortium, the Ramblers’ Association made strong representations to all stakeholders so that access to the foreshore below St Angelo Point is not in any way impaired.

The Ramblers’ Association also wanted to ensure that accessibility below Bighi Hospital remains open. Furthermore, when plans for Smart City were on the ‘drawing board’, the ramblers had several meetings with the planning authority to ensure the accessibility of the foreshore.

In all cases we were successful, however, we keep a watchful eye on these sites.

There are precedents where the Land Department succeeded in reclaiming large tracts of foreshore stretching from Fomm ir-Riħ to Ġnejna (picture). They were successfully reclaimed after meticulous research into Latin deeds going back 300 years.

It is indeed surprising how the law governing the foreshore escaped the attention and scrutiny of those responsible for passing on Manoel Island to the Midi.