Konferenza tal-aħbarijiet – 16.01.2025

MLT: Huwa fid-dmir tagħna li nitkellmu dwar l-isfida tan-nuqqas ta’ nies fil-Floriana u nkunu pijunieri biex noffru s-soluzzjonijiet biex issir riġenerazzjoni denja tal-lokalità.

Dan intqal mill-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana matul konferenza tal-aħbarijiet indirizzata mis-Sindku Nigel Holland u l-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul hekk kif illum il-Kunsill Lokali fakkar Jum il-Housing fil-lokalità.

Fl-istess konferenza s-Sindku Nigel Holland ta ħarsa lejn is-sitwazzjoni kurrenti fil-lokalità, filwaqt li fakkar f’dak li ġara fis-sena 2000, fis-16 ta’ Jannar, hekk kif kienet sfrundat indana f’kerreja fi Triq il-Kapuċċini u ħadet il-ħajja ta’ Riccardo Cesare. Huwa kompla billi qal li filwaqt li tajjeb li nfakkru din il-memorja, nirrealizzaw l-isfidi kurrenti li l-Floriana qed issib, speċjalment anki fil-kuntest tal-popolazzjoni li kull ma jmur qed titnaqqar.

Nigel Holland qal li llum il-Floriana qed issib sfidi fejn anki l-iżvilupp li qed isir mhux qiegħed jirrispeta la l-pożizzjoni tal-Kunsill Lokali u wisq anqas il-Pjan Lokali tal-Awtorita’ tal-Ippjanar għall-Floriana, li fuq kollox suppost li tħares li l-ebda binja residenzjali ma’ ssir waħda kummerċjali. Huwa sostna li fis-sitwazzjoni li ninsabu, fis-snin li ġejjin, il-Floriana se jkollha biss bini ta’ uffiċini u lukandi, iżda ftit li xejn residenti.

Il-popolazzjoni tal-Floriana llum naqset b’żewġ terzi meta mqabbla mal-perjodu ta’ wara t-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija.

Is-Sindku Nigel Holland saħaq li l-iżvilupp fil-Floriana għandu jsir bi ħsieb li jsawwar il-lokalità b’enfasi tisħieħ tar-residenti fil-Floriana u qabel inħarsu lejn proġetti maġġuri oħra li jistgħu jsiru fil-lokalità, l-ewwel u qabel kollox jeħtieġ li wieħed jikkunsidra xi prijoritajiet akbar hemm għal-lokalità.

Il-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul indika li matul l-aħħar laqgħa tal-Kunsill ġie preżentat dokument forma ta’ ‘policy paper’ li permezz ta’ dan id-dokument se jkun qed jissawwar mill-ġdid qafas ta’ politika li se jkun qed jaddotta l-Kunsill b’rabta ma’ din l-isfida. Huwa qal li dan id-dokument se jkun qiegħed iħares ukoll lejn x’inċentivi wieħed għandu jaddotta biex issir riġenerazzjoni tal-Floriana, fejn tenna li s-sitwazzjoni hija waħda straordinarja u jeħtieġ miżuri straordinjarji biex wieħed jaffaċjahom. Dan jista’ jsir bl-għajnuna tal-awtoritajiet kompetenti u l-Gvern.

James Aaron Ellul elenka l-fatt li l-lokalitajiet madwar ir-reġjun Port qed ibatu minn sfidi simili, speċjalment dawk li jmissu mal-Port il-Kbir u għalhekk tajjeb li anki l-lokalità tal-Floriana tkun pijuniera f’politika li tħares l-identità tagħha, ta’ dan ir-reġjun u tal-lokalitajiet rispettivi.

Id-dokument jagħti ħarsa wkoll lejn il-potenzjal li wieħed jista’ jakkwista u kif ukoll l-isfidi kurrenti ta’ x’wieħed isib fil-lokal fil-kuntest ta’ riġenerazzjoni.

Il-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul aċċenna l-fatt li dan id-dokument se jkun qed jitressaq għall-konsultazzjoni mal-Furjaniżi, għax il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana jrid imexxi bl-eżempju u jrid tassew ifassal politika mibnija fuq it-tisħiħ tal-identità u l-ġejjieni tal-Floriana.

Mill-kelliema, fl-istess konferenza ntqal li lkoll jesprimu t-tama li dan id-dokument ikun approvat matul il-laqgħa li jmiss tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana.

Preżenti wkoll għal din il-konferenza tal-aħbarijiet kien hemm il-Kunsilliera Justine Palmier.

EN: It is our duty to address the challenge of population decline in Floriana and take the lead in offering solutions to achieve meaningful regeneration for the locality.

This was stated by the Floriana Local Council during a press conference addressed by Mayor Nigel Holland and Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul as the Council marked Housing Day in the locality.

During the same conference, Mayor Nigel Holland provided an overview of the current situation in Floriana while recalling the tragic event of January 16, 2000, when a house in Capuchin Street collapsed, claiming the life of Riccardo Cesare. He emphasized the importance of remembering this incident while acknowledging the current challenges Floriana faces, particularly the ongoing decrease in population.

Mayor Holland noted that Floriana is experiencing challenges, including developments that disregard the Local Council’s position and that of the Planning Authority’s Local Plan for Floriana which is tasked to ensure that residential buildings are not converted into commercial properties. He warned that at this rate, in the coming years, Floriana will primarily consist of office buildings and hotels, with few, if any, residents.

The population of Floriana has decreased by two-thirds compared to the period following World War II.

Holland stressed that any development in Floriana must be carefully planned to strengthen the community and prioritize the well-being of residents before considering other major projects.

Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul highlighted that during the last Council meeting, a policy paper was presented to outline a new policy framework for addressing this challenge. He stated that the document will explore incentives to promote regeneration in Floriana, emphasizing that the situation requires extraordinary measures to address the extraordinary challenges. This can be achieved with the support of the relevant authorities and the government.

Ellul pointed out that other localities in the Grand Harbour region face similar challenges, particularly those bordering the port, and it is essential for Floriana to lead by example with policies that safeguard its identity, as well as that of the region and its neighbouring communities.

The document also examines the potential opportunities and the current challenges present in the locality within the context of regeneration.

Deputy Mayor Ellul stressed that this policy paper would be presented for consultation with Floriana’s residents, as the Council gives huge importance to consultation, it a must to lead by example, and also aims to develop policies that reinforce the locality’s identity and future.

Speakers at the conference expressed hope that this document would be approved during the next Floriana Local Council meeting.

Councillor Justine Palmier was also present at the press conference.