Wirt Għawdex

13/10/2026

Joint Press Release

The Ministry for the Arts, Culture and National Heritage has announced that, following discussions between the Government and developers, the Fort Chambray Master Plan has been revised to incorporate the historic British-period barracks.

The Ministry stated that the revision recognises the barracks’ historical and architectural significance and would ensure that their heritage value informs the site’s future development. It also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working with the private sector to ensure that development plans respect Malta’s cultural heritage.
Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Coalition for Gozo warmly welcome this news. However, one crucial matter was absent from the announcement: the need to grant the British Barracks the highest level of statutory protection through Grade 1 scheduling.

Retaining these historic structures within the master plan and acknowledging their importance to the future of Fort Chambray are essential steps. Without Grade 1 protection, however, we risk seeing the barracks suffer a fate similar to that of the Grade 2 scheduled St George’s Barracks, incorporated into the Hard Rock Hotel development, or Cambridge Barracks, whose Grade 2 scheduling did not prevent approval being granted for a 31-storey hotel within the barracks’ footprint.

The controversial demolition of the British Barracks at Fort Chambray was approved by the Planning Authority in December 2024, with the endorsement of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. The following month, in January 2025, Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Coalition for Gozo formally requested an Emergency Conservation Order for the barracks and open the way for Scheduling the British Barracks at the highest protection grading for a building. This request received widespread support from numerous NGOs, academics, the Għajnsielem and Kerċem Local Councils, two former prime ministers (Dr Alfred Sant and Dr Lawrence Gonzi), Members of Parliament, other political figures and hundreds of Maltese citizens. Our appeal went unheeded.

This year, Europa Nostra included the British Barracks among Europe’s seven most endangered heritage sites. Its report recommended both Grade 1 scheduling and recognition through the prestigious European Heritage Label.

Preserving the exterior alone would be wholly inadequate if the original rooms, built by master mason Vitor Vella more than 120 years ago, were gutted to make way for hotel accommodation. The barracks’ historic setting must also remain intact. Attaching a modern building to the barracks, or surrounding them with new blocks, would compromise their character and strip them of the very qualities that make them worthy of preservation.
We look forward to the Gozitan British Barracks being finally scheduled with Grade 1 protection. Nothing else will do!

Coalition for Gozo (Wirt Għawdex, Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex, and Għawdix) and Din l-Art Ħelwa

Photo credit: Coalition for Gozo

07/10/2026

Wirt Għawdex was among the objectors to this application, which proposed a photovoltaic solar farm atop Ta' Kuljat. We support sourcing energy from alternative sources, but this should not come at the expense of unspoilt, virgin land and archaeological heritage, nor should it pose a threat to existing natural hydrological resources. This was an ill-thought proposal, and we are happy to note that the application has been withdrawn.

07/08/2026

Once again, ERA — the Environment and Resources Authority — betrays our natural environment. At this point, it would be more fitting for this authority to change its name to “Environment Ruining Authority”; the initials would still read ERA, after all.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has approved the preliminary environmental programme for the proposed Six Senses Comino development, with project developer HV Hospitality saying the

21/07/2026

Just prior to the summer break, Wirt Għawdex organised a treasure hunt for children at the Gozo Citadel. It was amazing to see so many kids excited about our Island's history! A fun event we'll make sure to hold again! Thanks to APS Bank for sponsoring the event.

08/07/2026

By way of an update to our followers, we have not, as yet, received information from either the Planning Authority or ERA about what kind of permits, if any, were issued for these works, following the query that the Coalition for Gozo sent yesterday to both authorities. In the meantime, some updates may be found in this article.

Clean-up operation under way on Wednesday after workers repairing coastal path went beyond DNO

07/07/2026

The Coalition for Gozo, composed of Wirt Għawdex, Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex, and Għawdix have submitted questions to the Planning Authority and ERA to enquire about the pouring of cement on coastal rocks in Marsalforn. We are demanding answers to our questions about this atrocity.

06/07/2026

https://timesofmalta.com/article/coalition-urges-pa-reject-zebbug-solar-farm-objections-mount.1130978?

More than 180 people have written to the Planning Authority to reject the proposed solar farm on virgin land

16/06/2026

EN

Are you curious about history? Have you ever wandered the Citadel’s narrow alleys in the darkness of the night? Do you like working as a team with your friends? Now is your chance to participate in a unique event! Wirt Għawdex is inviting the younger public to take part in a treasure hunt at the Citadel led by Leanne Ellul on Friday, 3 July 2026 at 8pm.

The Gozo NGO Wirt Għawdex is inviting children of over 8 years of age to explore the Ċittadella through a carefully-curated and supervised treasure hunt. This unique activity shall be bilingual (Maltese and English) and shall be open for teams of up to 4 children and 1 supervising adult. The activity shall require the use of a mobile phone. All participants will receive a token, and the winners will be presented with a set of books from Merlin Publishers alongside other gifts.

Heartfelt gratitude to APS Bank who are supporting this event.

MT

Kurjuż/a dwar l-Istorja? Qatt xtaqt timraħ fl-isqaqien dojoq taċ-Ċittadella billejl? Tħobb taħdem fi grupp ma’ sħabek? Issa ċ-ċans tiegħek li tipparteċipa f’avveniment uniku! Wirt Għawdex qed jistieden lit-tfal sabiex jattendu kaċċa għat-teżor fiċ-Ċittadella, nhar it-3 ta’ Lulju 2026 fit-8pm fiċ-Ċittadella. Il-kaċċa għat-teżor se titmexxa minn Leanne Ellul.

Din id-darba, it-tfal huma mistiedna jesploraw iċ-Ċittadella aktar mill-qrib. Il-kaċċa għat-teżor, li se tkun kemm bil-Malti kif ukoll bl-Ingliż, hija maħsuba għal tfal li għandhom ’il fuq minn 8 snin. Kull grupp għandu jkun ta’ mhux iktar minn erbat itfal flimkien ma’ adult għas-superviżjoni. L-attività tirrikjedi l-użu ta’ mowbajl. Il-parteċipanti kollha se jirċievu tifkira, u r-rebbieħa se jirċievu sett ta’ kotba mingħand Merlin Publishers flimkien ma’ rigali oħra.

Nirringrazzjaw lil APS Bank talli qed jappoġġjaw din l-attività.

30/05/2026

🇬🇧 Yesterday, Wirt Għawdex held its last public lecture prior to the summer break. Once again, we thank Justine Somerville for kindly accepting our invitation to speak to us about Ġorġ Pisani's poetry. We shall be back with more lectures in Autumn!
Thanks to all our followers and supporters throughout the year!

🇲🇹 Ilbieraħ, Wirt Għawdex organizza l-aħħar taħdita pubblika qabel pawża għas-sajf. Nirringrazzjaw mill-ġdid lil Justine Somerville talli għoġobha taċċeta l-istedina tagħna biex tkellimna dwar il-poeżija ta' Ġorġ Pisani. Nerġgħu lura b'iktar taħdidiet fil-Ħarifa! Grazzi mill-qalb lil dawk kollha li jsegwuna u jagħtuna s-sapport tagħhom tul is-sena!

27/05/2026

Instead of acting to conserve our natural heritage, the authorities are actively facilitating its ruin.

NGOs flag failure to clamp down on illegal boathouse-turned-restaurant and kiosk