Poet warns that Floriana is 'slowly dying'

Renowned poet and novelist Oliver Friggieri has warned that the town of Floriana is “slowly dying”.

Speaking at the launch of a book about St. Publius Church in Floriana edited by Freddie Tonna, Stephen Tonna and Charles Zammit Moore, Friggieri claimed that “nobody will be around to open the church’s doors or attend mass in twenty years’ time”.

He called on the authorities to unite with stakeholders so as to stop Floriana from turning into another “silent city”.

Floriana used to be home to 6,000 people in the past but it not only houses 2,000 residents, half of whom are over 55 years old. The average age of a Floriana resident is 57 while only about 60 people are between 16 and 18.