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Is-sitwazzjoni reali fil-Floriana hija waħda drastika, hekk kif kull ma jmur il-popolazzjoni Maltija fil-lokal dejjem qed titnaqqar, u l-komunità residenzjali dejjem qed tonqos.

Illum il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana fakkar Jum il-Housing, u f’konferenza tal-aħbarjiet indirizzata mis-Sindku Nigel Holland u l-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul ingħatat ħarsa lejn is-sitwazzjoni kurrenti demografika fil-lokalità tal-Floriana.

Fil-kummenti tiegħu, is-Sindku Nigel Holland ta ħarsa tas-sitwazzjoni preżenti fil-lokal, fejn sostna li ġimgħa wara ġimgħa, binja residenzjali qed tiġi kkonvertita għal aspetti kummerċjali. Huwa tenna li l-Kunsill Lokali dejjem joġġezzjona għal żvilupp bħal dan, bl-awtoritajiet li suppost jaqdu dmirhom, dejjem isibu lok biex imorru kontra l-oġġezzjoni tal-Kunsill u jabbandunaw ħajjet ir-residenti.

Huwa qal ukoll li kien hemm rieda pożittiva mir-Reġjun Port u anki mill-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Kunsill Lokali.

Fl-istess konferenza s-Sindku Nigel Holland 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.

“Il-Kunsill Lokali Furjaniż se jibqa’ jinsisti, u anki ġab miegħu Kunsilli Lokali oħrajn li qed jikkumbattu l-istess sfida, issa jeħtieġ din l-isfida tan-nuqqas ta’ nies nikkumbattuha flimkien” – Nigel Holland

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.

Is-Sindku Nigel Holland żied li huwa inutli li niċċelebraw b’tant pompa u kliem sabiħ, kif ġustament qed isir, il-Kunsill Reġjonali Port bħala l-Reġjun Kulturali tas-Sena 2026, meta nafu li, bir-rata li għaddejjin, il-komunitajiet ta’ madwar il-Port il-Kbir fi żmien 20 sena ser ikunu prattikament sparixxew u kull ma ser ikun qed jeżisti huma kumplessi u abitazzjonijiet turistiċi. Filwaqt li wieħed japprezza r-riġenerazzjoni fiżika tal-lokalitajiet ta’ madwar il-Port il-Kbir li sar f’dawn l-aħħar snin, il-prijorita’ assoluta għandha tkun ir-riġenerazzjoni tal-komunitajiet ta’ madwar l-istess Port, dan biex it-tradizzjoniet rikki li jinsabu f’dawn il-lokalitajiet li, ħafna minnhom sawwru l-istorja ta’ Malta u tal-ġens Malti nnifsu, jibqgħu ħajjin.

Huwa tenna li l-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 ta’tisħieħ tar-residenti fil-Floriana

Il-Viċi Sindku, James Aaron Ellul fakkar li din mhux reazzjoni tal-mument. Is-sena li għaddiet, kien ippreżenta dokument, li fih anki għadd ta’ proposti, li wassal biex titqajjem kuxjenza u jkun hemm għarfien dwar il-kriżi demografika tal-lokal. Id-dokument li kellu l-għan li fost l-oħrajn iqajjem kuxjenza u jżid l-għarfien kien ġab vot ta’ qbil, unanimu, fil-Kunsill.

Huwa qal li dan id-dokument illum qed jiġi kkonfermat, iżda akkost dan kollu, ma rajniex bidla fil-politika nazzjonali għall-kriżi li qed tiffaċċja l-Floriana u mhux biss, hekk kif il-kriżi tinsab anki f’lokalitajiet oħra tal-Port il-Kbir, inkluż il-Belt Valletta u l-Kottonera, bil-Floriana tkun pijuniera f’politika li tħares l-identità tagħha, tar-reġjun u tal-lokalitajiet rispettivi.

“Qed naffaċċjaw kriżi demografika li hija riżultat ta’ għażliet ħżiena li saru matul l-aħħar snin – il-kriżi tista’ ma tibqax jekk isiru għażliet aħjar u tibda l-implimentazzjoni ta’ dak li qed nipproponu” – James Aaron Ellul

Huwa qal li għalhekk il-Kunsill Lokali se jmur pass aktar ‘il quddiem, wara sena ta’ taħdidiet, u se jkun qed jorganizza konferenza nazzjonali f’dan ir-rigward.

James Aaron Ellul elenka li dan in-nuqqas qed iwassal għal impatt permanenti fuq il-komunità, filwaqt li tenna li din mhux kwistjoni ta’ wieħed li għandu jkun kontra l-iżvilupp, imma kwistjoni favur komunità li trid tgħix, bl-iżvilupp għandu jservi lill-komunità billi jippermetti li jkun hemm ir-residenti fil-lokal. –Huwa qal li llum il-familji, il-koppji mhux jifilħu jħallsu kirjiet għoljin u jixtru proprjetajiet; u minflok qed jidħlu fil-lokalità entitajiet kummerċjali minflok koppji żgħażagħ bil-konsegwenza li l-komunità  Furjaniża qed tisfuma

Huwa fakkar li l-istess dokument għandu għadd ta’ proposti li jekk jingħataw widen, iwasslu għal tkabbir komunitarju u reżidenzjali fil-Floriana.

Ellul għalaq billi qal li wasal iż-żmien għal azzjonijiet konkreti, fejn l-awtoritajiet li għandhom is-setgħa li jaraw li l-pjan lokali jkun rispettat, u li jaqdu dmirhom. Filwaqt li tenna li l-Floriana ma jistax ikun jibqa’ jkollha aktar funerali milli magħmudijiet.

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

EN: More funerals than baptisms: Floriana facing deepening demographic crisis

Floriana is facing a deepening demographic and residential crisis, with its Maltese population continuing to shrink and its residential community steadily eroding, the Floriana Local Council warned on Thursday.

The issue was highlighted during a press conference held to mark Housing Day, addressed by Mayor Nigel Holland and Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul, where the council presented an overview of the locality’s current housing and demographic realities.

Mayor Holland said that residential buildings in Floriana are being converted into commercial premises on a regular basis, warning that this trend is accelerating the loss of residents from the locality. He said the Local Council consistently objects to such developments, but its objections are frequently overturned by the authorities responsible for planning decisions.

According to Holland, this approach is resulting in decisions that disregard both the position of the Local Council and the needs of residents. He added that there has been a positive willingness to engage on the issue from the Port Region and the Local Councils’ Association.

During the press conference, Holland also recalled the collapse of a structure in a rented property in Triq il-Kapuċċini on 16 January 2000, which claimed the life of Riccardo Cesare. While stressing the importance of remembering the tragedy, he said it also serves as a reminder of the broader challenges Floriana continues to face today.

“The Floriana Local Council will remain persistent. We have also brought together other Local Councils that are facing the same challenges. This issue of population decline now needs to be addressed collectively,” Holland said.

He warned that development in Floriana is increasingly taking place in contradiction to both the Planning Authority’s Local Plan and the council’s position, despite the plan’s stated aim of protecting residential buildings from being converted to commercial use. If current trends continue, Holland said, Floriana risks becoming a locality dominated by offices and hotels, with very few residents remaining.

Mayor Nigel Holland added that it is futile to celebrate with such pomp and fine words, as is rightly being done, the Port Regional Council being named Cultural Region of the Year 2026, when it is clear that, at the current rate, the communities around the Grand Harbour will, within the next 20 years, have practically disappeared, leaving behind little more than complexes and tourist accommodation. While the physical regeneration of localities around the Grand Harbour in recent years is to be welcomed, he said the absolute priority must be the regeneration of the communities living around the harbour.

Holland noted that Floriana’s population has declined by two thirds compared to the period following the Second World War, insisting that future development must prioritise the strengthening of the residential community and the long-term sustainability of the locality.

Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul said the council’s position was not a reaction to recent developments. He recalled that last year he presented a policy document outlining a number of proposals aimed at addressing the demographic challenges facing Floriana. The document, which aimed among other things to raise awareness and increase understanding of the situation, was unanimously approved by the Local Council.

Ellul said that the realities on the ground are now confirming the document’s conclusions. However, he added that there has been no corresponding change in national policy to address what he described as a demographic and residential crisis, one characterised by a declining population, the loss of residential buildings, and the weakening of community life.

He stressed that the same challenges are being experienced in other localities around the Grand Harbour, including Valletta and the Cottonera, and said Floriana is seeking to act as a pioneer in advocating policies that protect local identity at both a regional and community level.

“We are facing a demographic crisis that is the result of poor policy choices made over recent years. This crisis is not irreversible, the situation can improve if better decisions are taken and the proposals we are putting forward begin to be implemented,” Ellul said.

He added that after a year of discussions, the Floriana Local Council will be organising a national conference to focus on the issue.

Ellul said the continued decline in residents is having a lasting impact on the community, stressing that the issue is not opposition to development but ensuring that development serves a living community and allows residents to remain in the locality. The Deputy Mayor said that today families and couples can no longer afford high rents or to purchase property, and that commercial entities are moving into the locality instead of young couples. As a result, the Floriana community is steadily fading away.

He concluded by calling for concrete action from the authorities responsible for enforcing the Local Plan, warning that Floriana cannot continue along a path where it sees more funerals than baptisms.

Councillor Justine Vella Palmier was also present at the press conference.

Is-Sindku, il-Viċi Sindku, il-Kunsilliera u l-ħaddiema kollha tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana jixtiequ jawguraw lilkom u l-familji tagħkom il-Milied it-Tajjeb u sena ġdida mimlija risq u barka.

Awguri! 

Fl-aħħar ġimgħat il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana ssokta bil-laqgħat tiegħu mal-Kunsilli Lokali u kif ukoll entitajiet biex jiddiskutu sfida ewlenija li qed tolqot il-lokalità; il-kriżi demografika.

F’laqgħa li kellu mal-Kumitat tas-Soċjetà Ċivili fi ħdan l-MCESD, il-Kunsill Lokali ppreżenta d-dokument li l-Kunsill addotta fi Frar li għadda b’rabta mal-kriżi demografika fil-lokal. In-nuqqas ta’ riġenerazzjoni tan-nies fil-Floriana ilha tinħass għal għexieren ta’ snin, bil-Kunsill Lokali approva dokument imħejji mid-Deputat Sindku James Aaron Ellul li permezz tiegħu skata proċess ta’ konsultazzjoni anki mal-Gvern u mal-Oppożizzjoni.

Is-Sindku Nigel Holland tkellem dwar kif anki l-pjan lokali mhux jiġi rispettat, fejn qed isir żvilupp mhux għal skopijiet reżidenzjali f’zoni li huma reżidenzjali. Huwa elenka wkoll li l-Kunsill Lokali qed isib appoġġ anki mir-Reġjun Port. Huwa tenna li lokalità bla komunità mhux lokalità, u għalhekk il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana se jibqa’ jsostni l-politika li ssaħħaħ il-popolazzjoni tal-lokalità u mhux tħalliha titnaqqar. Is-Sindku tal-Floriana sejjaħ lill-awtoritajiet nazzjonali biex joffru aktar riżorsi u qafas legali li jsaħħaħ lill-Kunsilli Lokali. Huwa tenna li l-iskop tal-Kunsill jibqa’ wieħed: li l-Floriana terġa’ tkun lokalità b’ħajja. Nigel Holland appella wkoll lill-awtoritajiet biex jirrispettaw il-local plan u joffru aktar għajnuna lill-Floriana u lill-Furjaniżi.

Id-Deputat Sindku James Aaron Ellul aċċenna l-fatt li l-awtoritajiet li suppost jiżalvagwardjaw il-Floriana mhux jagħmlu dan, fejn ħafna drabi jintilef il-bilanċ, u l-Kunsill jitħalla waħdu, bil-limitazzjonijiet kbar li llum il-Kunsill Lokali għandhom. Huwa tenna li d-dokument li ressaq fi Frar ta lok għal aktar għarfien u tqajmet kuxjenza dwar din il-kriżi, fejn anki permezz tal-istatistika uffiċjali tal-Uffiċċju Nazzjonali tal-Istatistika wieħed jista’ jkollu stampa ċara tal-popolazzjoni tal-Floriana u x-xejra li ħadet matul l-aħħar snin. Ellul elenka li jekk is-sitwazzjoni tibqa’ kif inhi, fejn ma jkunx hemm għajnuniet addizzjonali mill-Gvern u/jew entitajiet oħra, il-kalkolu li wettaq fuq kif niżlet il-popolazzjoni tal-Maltin fil-Floriana jindika li sal-2034 ikun fadal 1,278 Malti jgħixu fil-Floriana. Bil-kalkolu ttieħed b’indikazzjonijiet mhux daqstant drastiċi.

Fost il-proposti ppreżentati fid-dokument hemm miżuri li jiffavorixxu l-użu ta’ proprjetajiet vojta għal skopijiet residenzjali, inċentivi għal familji żgħażagħ biex jissetiljaw fil-lokalità, u pjan ta’ riġenerazzjoni li jżomm l-identità storika u soċjali tal-Floriana.

Matul din il-laqgħa ġie diskuss kif il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana kellu laqgħat anki mal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Birgu u l-Isla, fejn matul dawn il-laqgħat ġew diskussi materji komuni li jolqtu lill-komunità madwar il-Port il-Kbir fosthom il-kriżi demografika u d-diżintegrazzjoni tal-komunitajiet residenzjali li jmissu mal-istess port.

Id-dokument tal-Kunsill Lokali li għandu l-appoġġ mill-Kunsill kollu, kien ippreżentat liċ-Chairperson tal-MCESD David Xuereb, lis-CEO tal-MCESD Brendan Zerafa u liċ-Chairperson tal-Kumitat tas-Soċjetà Ċivili fi ħdan l-MCESD Norma Camilleri. Huma indikaw li fi ħdan il-Kumitat tas-Soċjetà Ċivili hemm rappreżentanza tal-Kunsill Lokali, permezz tal-Local Councils Association u għaldaqstant jkun hemm opportunità biex id-dokument tal-Kunsill Lokali jkun ukoll diskuss fl-istess kumitat.

Preżenti għal din l-istess laqgħa kien hemm is-Segretarju Eżekuttiv tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana Malcolm Agius Muscat u kif ukoll il-Kunsilliera Justine Palmier.

Il-Kunsill Lokali Furjaniż japprezza l-kollaborazzjoni tal-Kunsilli ġirien, tal-entitajiet pubbliċi u tas-soċjetà ċivili, u nsejħu għal aktar impenn komuni biex jerġa’ jinbena t-tessut soċjali tal-bliet tal-Port il-Kbir. Il-Kunsill Lokali se jibqa’ jippromwovi miżuri konkreti biex jerġa’ jkun hemm bilanċ bejn l-iżvilupp urban u l-ħajja komunitarja.

Floriana Local Council continues to place the demographic crisis at the forefront of the national agenda

In recent weeks, the Floriana Local Council has continued holding meetings with other Local Councils as well as with various entities to discuss a key challenge affecting the locality — the demographic crisis.

During a meeting held with the Civil Society Committee within the MCESD, the Local Council presented the document it had adopted last February regarding the demographic challenges faced by the locality. The lack of population regeneration in Floriana has been felt for decades, with the Council approving a document prepared by Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul, which also initiated a consultation process with both Government and Opposition representatives.

Mayor Nigel Holland spoke about how even the local plan is often not respected, with development being permitted for non-residential purposes in residential zones. He also noted that the Local Council is receiving support from the Regional Council for the Grand Harbour area. He emphasized that a locality without a community is not a locality, and for this reason, the Floriana Local Council will continue promoting policies that strengthen the population rather than allow it to decline. The Mayor called on national authorities to provide more resources and a stronger legal framework to empower Local Councils. He reaffirmed that the Council’s main goal remains unchanged — for Floriana to once again become a living community. Mayor Holland also appealed to the authorities to respect the local plan and offer more assistance to Floriana and its residents.

Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul noted that the authorities responsible for safeguarding Floriana are often failing to do so, resulting in an imbalance that leaves the Council to face the situation alone, despite the major limitations that Local Councils currently face. He emphasized that the document submitted in February helped raise awareness and understanding of this crisis. Official statistics published by the National Statistics Office clearly show the population trends in Floriana over the years. Ellul explained that, based on his projections, if the situation remains unchanged and no additional support is provided by the Government or other entities, the number of Maltese residents in Floriana is expected to drop to 1,278 by 2034, based on moderate estimates. James Aaron Ellul warned that without urgent national action, Floriana risks becoming a town of memories rather than a living community.

Among the proposals presented in the document are measures to encourage the use of vacant properties for residential purposes, incentives for young families to settle in the locality, and a regeneration plan that preserves Floriana’s historic and social identity.

During this meeting, it was also discussed how the Floriana Local Council has held meetings with the Birgu and Isla Local Councils, where they addressed common issues affecting communities around the Grand Harbour — including the demographic crisis and the disintegration of traditional residential communities in the area.

The document, which enjoys the full support of the Floriana Local Council, was presented to MCESD Chairperson David Xuereb, MCESD CEO Brendan Zerafa, and Civil Society Committee Chairperson Norma Camilleri. They noted that the Civil Society Committee includes representation from the Local Councils Association, creating an opportunity for the Floriana document to be further discussed within the committee.

Also present for the meeting were the Council’s Executive Secretary Malcolm Agius Muscat and Councillor Justine Palmier.

The Floriana Local Council appreciates the collaboration of neighbouring councils, public entities, and civil society organizations, and calls for stronger joint commitment to rebuild the social fabric of the Grand Harbour towns. The Council remains determined to promote concrete measures to restore a balance between urban development and community life.

Il-Festa ta’ San Patrizju, li ilha tiġi ċċelebrata fil-Floriana mill-bidu tas-seklu 20. Din is-sena se tkun iċċelebrata nhar il-Ħadd 16 ta’ Marzu f’Balzunetta, fi Triq il-Konservatorju.

Din il-festa tal-qaddis prottetur tal-Irlanda għandha rabta speċjali ma dak kollu li huwa aħdar u kien fil-bidu tas-seklu 20 meta bdiet it-tradizzjoni li l-Furjanizi jissejjħu bħala tal-Irish. Dan hekk kif dak iż-żmien suldati Irandliżi kienu stazzjonati fiż-żona ta’ Balzunetta.

Fl-1905 imbagħad kienet intlagħbet logħba futbol bejn il-Klabb tal-Floriana u t-tim Irandiż. Dak iż-żmien it-tim ta’ Floriana FC kien jilgħab bil-kuluri aħdar u aħmar iżda wara dik il-logħba bdew jilgħabu bil-kuluri tal-irlanda, aħdar u abjad, hekk kif kien hemm skambju tal-flokkijiet wara l-partita.

Ara d-dettalji tal-attività fil-poster.