Stqarrija għall-Istampa mill-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara
Data: 17.01.2026
L-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara tilqa’ b’sodisfazzjon l-aħbar li ngħatat ilbieraħ mill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela dwar l-intenzjoni tal-Gvern li jerġa’ jassumi l-kontroll tal-Forti Salvatur fil-Kalkara u jagħtih lura restawrat kif xieraq lill-poplu Malti. Huwa qal li din kienet tweġiba diretta għall-karba favur din il-fortizza li seħħet fl-aħħar ġranet. Din id-dikjarazzjoni tirrappreżenta pass storiku lejn il-ħarsien ta’ wieħed mill-aktar monumenti prezzjużi fl-inħawi u tal-wirt nazzjonali Malti.
Għal snin twal, il-Forti Salvatur safa fi stat ta’ abbandun u telqa totali, tant li l-Assoċjazzjoni kienet ilha twissi dwar ir-riskju li binja bħal din tintilef għal dejjem. Stqarrijiet maħruġa fl-2019, fl-2022 u l-aħħar waħda matul din il-ġimgħa, mhux biss urew il-ħtieġa ta’ impenn deċiżiv, iżda anki ngħataw proposti konkreti ta’ użu alternattiv u li jagħmel ġieħ l-istorja ta’ din il-fortizza. L-impenn li ħabbar il-Prim Ministru lbieraħ jagħti tama ġdida lill-Forti Salvatur biex mhux biss tiġi salvata, iżda terġa’ tieħu l-post li jistħoqqilha fil-qalba tal-identità kulturali taż-żona.
L-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara tħares lejn dan l-iżvilupp bħala opportunità biex finalment jibda proċess serju, professjonali u trasparenti ta’ restawr u riġenerazzjoni. Il-fatt li l-Prim Ministru esprima r-rieda li jirkupra l-forti mingħand il-privat huwa pass fundamentali li jiftaħ il-bieb għal pjan fit-tul li għandu jinkludi viżjoni ta’ użu sostenibbli. L-Assoċjazzjoni tibqa’ impenjata li, jekk mitluba, tikkollabora mal-Gvern u mal-awtoritajiet kompetenti sabiex dan il-pjan ta’ azzjoni jitwettaq b’mod effettiv u responsabbli, filwaqt li tittama li l-proċess jibda mingħajr dewmien u li l-Forti Salvatur jerġa’ jkun simbolu dehen ta’ identità u storja għall-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin.
Fort Salvatore: A Decisive Step Towards Its Protection
Press Release by Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara
Date: 17.01.2026
Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara welcomes with appreciation the announcement made yesterday by Prime Minister Robert Abela regarding the Government’s intention to reassume control of Fort Salvatore in Kalkara and to return it, duly and appropriately restored, to the Maltese people. The Prime Minister noted that this decision was a direct response to the widespread concern expressed in recent days regarding the future of this historic fortification. This declaration marks a significant milestone in the safeguarding of one of the zone’s most valuable monuments and an important component of Malta’s national heritage.
For many years, Fort Salvatore has endured a prolonged state of abandonment and neglect, prompting the Association to repeatedly warn of the real danger that such a structure could be lost irreversibly. Statements issued in 2019, in 2022, and most recently earlier this week underscored not only the urgent need for decisive intervention, but also presented concrete proposals for alternative and historically respectful uses of the site. The commitment expressed by the Prime Minister yesterday offers renewed confidence that Fort Salvatore will not only be preserved, but will once again assume its rightful place at the heart of the area’s cultural identity.
Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara regards this development as an opportunity for the commencement of a rigorous, professionally led, and transparent programme of restoration and regeneration. The Prime Minister’s declared intention to recover the fort from private ownership constitutes a fundamental step that enables the formulation of a long-term strategy grounded in principles of sustainable use. The Association remains fully committed, should its contribution be requested, to collaborate with the Government and the competent authorities to ensure that this plan of action is implemented effectively and responsibly. It also expresses the hope that this initiative will proceed without delay, allowing Fort Salvatore to once again stand as a dignified symbol of identity and history for generations to come.
Xi ritratti ħajr lil Fort Finder u Conrad Neil Gatt | Some photos thanks to Fort Finder and Conrad Neil Gatt