Sliema’s Fortina Uprising: How One Man’s Parliament Protest Ignited Malta’s Coastline Rebellion

**Borg takes Opposition leader’s seat, demands debate on Fortina land transfer**

In a dramatic parliamentary move that has set tongues wagging across the islands, newly-elected Opposition leader Bernard Grech found himself upstaged yesterday when independent MP Marlene Farrugia vacated her customary seat to make way for a surprise contender: Arnold Borg, the self-styled “voice of Sliema” who has been leading community protests against the controversial Fortina land transfer.

The unprecedented seating shuffle occurred during yesterday’s parliamentary session, as Borg – who is not actually an MP – was invited by Farrugia to physically occupy her place and address the House about the proposed development that threatens one of Sliema’s last remaining public waterfront spaces.

“Today I speak not just for Sliema, but for every Maltese person who watches our island shrink before our eyes,” Borg declared, his voice carrying the distinctive Sliema lilt that locals immediately recognise. “The Fortina isn’t just land – it’s our childhood memories, our Sunday strolls, our children’s future.”

The Fortina site, a 4,000-square-metre stretch of prime coastline opposite the iconic Tigné Point, has been at the centre of fierce community opposition since plans emerged for a luxury mixed-use development featuring high-end residences and a yacht marina. For many locals, the proposal represents yet another slice of Malta’s limited public coastline being surrendered to private interests.

“This is where our nannas brought us to eat ħobż biż-żejt after swimming,” explains 68-year-old Sliema resident Mary Camilleri, who joined dozens of protesters outside Parliament. “Now they want to turn it into another playground for the super-rich. Enough is enough.”

The Fortina holds particular cultural significance for Maltese families, having served as a beloved bathing spot and picnic area for generations. Its name derives from the small fort that once stood there, part of the coastal defence system built by the Knights of St. John. Local folklore tells of families gathering there during festa season, with children diving off the rocks while grandparents watched from shaded spots along the promenade.

Borg, a 45-year-old former tourism operator turned community activist, has tapped into a groundswell of resentment that extends far beyond Sliema’s borders. His petition against the development has garnered over 15,000 signatures in just three weeks, with support flooding in from across the Maltese islands.

“The reaction has been incredible,” Borg told Hot Malta after his parliamentary address. “We’ve heard from Gozitan farmers, Valletta artisans, Marsaxlokk fishermen – ordinary Maltese people who see their way of life disappearing. This isn’t about being anti-development; it’s about sustainable development that respects our identity.”

The Labour government has defended the proposed transfer, arguing it will create jobs and boost tourism revenue. But critics point to Malta’s already strained infrastructure and the increasing privatisation of public spaces that once defined Maltese community life.

Environmental NGOs have echoed these concerns, warning that the development would set a dangerous precedent for other coastal areas. “We’re witnessing the death by a thousand cuts of Malta’s public realm,” says Astrid Saliba from Friends of the Earth Malta. “Every square metre we surrender is gone forever.”

The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time, with local council elections approaching and both major parties acutely aware of public frustration over overdevelopment. Even traditionally pro-development voices have expressed unease about the Fortina proposal’s scale and impact.

As Borg left Parliament to cheers from supporters, his impromptu address may have marked a turning point in Malta’s development debate. Whether it changes the Fortina’s fate remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Maltese public is increasingly unwilling to watch their island transformed without having their say.

The Fortina fight, it seems, is about much more than one patch of coastline – it’s about who gets to decide Malta’s future.