Gzira council requests jurisdiction over Manoel Island

The Gzira local council has formally asked the government for Manoel Island to be reinstated under the council’s jurisdiction with immediate effect.

The request was presented in a motion by Gzira mayor Conrad Borg Manche, seconded by deputy mayor Ralph Mangion and approved unanimously by the council on Thursday.

The motion was sent to local government minister Owen Bonnici and the director of the Local Government Department, in accordance with Chapter 363 of the Laws of Malta.

At the moment, the council’s jurisdiction is limited to just past the bridge that links Manoel Island to the Gzira seafront.

“This is creating an anomaly whereby an entire island – measuring over 299,467 square meters and just 28 meters off Gżira with public areas and public domain – is not catered for by the governing local council,” the council said in a statement.

“This is contrary to Tigné that forms part of Sliema and remains under the jurisdiction of Sliema Local Council.”

Plan showing the boundaries of Gzira and highlighting the area Manoel Island represents

The gates at Manoel Island remain shut, after development consrtium MIDI installed new gates and blocked access to activists seeking to have free passage to the public foreshore.

Borg Manché  had urged calm, dissuading the activists who assembled on Friday from doing anything that would escalate the situation.

At least 11 police officers, including two police inspectors and assistant commissioner Martin Sammut were on site to ensure that the law was obeyed by all present.

The assistant commissioner assured MaltaToday that the police presence was normal practise for large gatherings and was there solely to ensure that public order was maintained.