Category: Tberfil

Is-sitwazzjoni fil-Belt Valletta hija inkwetanti ħafna. Minn naħa, nosservaw gvern li hu ffissat fuq ir-retorika tar-“riġenerazzjoni tal-Belt Valletta,” filwaqt li min-naħa l-oħra, b’mod sfaċċat qed nassistu għal komunità li bi pressjoni sottili sfat iddiżintegrata.

Lura fl-2012, ħafna minna konna mimlija eċċitament meta l-Belt Valletta ntgħażlet mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea, flimkien ma’ Leeuwarden fl-Olanda, biex tkun il-Kapitali Ewropea tal-Kultura għall-2018. Jien ukoll kont entużjast u għamilt kull sforz biex ningħaqad mal-Fondazzjoni Valletta 2018 biex nikkontribwixxi għat-tiġdid tal-belt għażiża tiegħi. Sfortunatament, aktar tard skoprejna li l-mexxejja wara din il-mewġa ta’ “progress” ma kellhomx ħsieb ġenwin għall-benessri tar-residenti tal-Kapitali.

Minflok, il-Gvern Malti, immexxi minn Partit Laburista li aktar tard kien espost b’ħafna stejjer ta’ korruzzjoni iddettati mill-ġenn tal-profitt monetarju, iffoka biss fuq l-aspetti ekonomiċi ta’ din l-inizjattiva kruċjali, u injora l-impatti soċjali u kulturali sinifikanti, minkejja li dawn kienu dokumentati u enfasizzati sew mit-tim tar- riċerka fl-istess Fondazzjoni Valletta 2018. Filwaqt li l-Gvern ħabbar “impatt ekonomiku totali ta’ aktar minn €325M, investiment totali ġġenerat ta’ €678M fl-ekonomija Maltija, u żieda reġistrata ta’ 2.23% fil-PGD tal-2018,” il-komunità tal-Belt Valletta ffaċċjat ġentrifikazzjoni severa, li rriżultat fl-ispostament ta’ ħafna residenti u rajna tnaqqis evidenti sa ma spiċċajna bi ftit eluf.

Għalkemm ċerti aspetti estetiċi tal-Belt Valletta ġew restawrati għas-sbuħija ta’ qabel, l-element uman ġie traskurat, u dan wassal biex ħafna jitilqu, jaqtgħu r-rabtiet tagħhom u jrabbu apatija estrema lejn il-Belt għażiża. Għaddew għaxar snin, u l-ispirtu u r-ruħ tal-Belt Valletta issa jinstabu fuq it-tarf tal-kollass, bi ftit reżistenza, anke mill-mexxejja kreattivi, atletiċi jew politiċi tagħha. Is-sitwazzjoni tiggrava ruħha hekk kif kulma jmur aktar spazji tal-Beltin qegħdin jiġu mgħoddija lill-privat mingħajr ebda konsultazzjoni diretta mal-komunità u mingħajr ebda studju validu li jara x’impatt ser ikollha l-komunità fuq il-wirt kulturali tagħha.

Kull membru ġenwin tal-komunità tal-Belt Valletta għandu jirrifletti u jagħraf li jekk inkomplu niddependu fuq il-gvern u r-rappreżentanti tiegħu, l-influwenza tagħna tibqa’ suxxettibbli għal pressjonijiet esterni. Il-mexxejja tagħna kkultivaw kultura fejn meta tiddividi lill-komunità tkun tista’ tiddominaha

Il-vuċi tagħna li xi darba kienet indipendenti u r-reputazzjoni Beltija illum jinsabu kompromessi. Hekk ukoll il-belt tagħna. Jien għajjejt bir-retorika diviżiva li tpoġġi lil PL kontra PN, San Pawl kontra San Duminku, residenti kontra negozji, kunsillier lokali kontra ieħor, eċċ. Xbajt minn dawk il-Beltin laqa li joqogħdu lura milli jikkritikaw lill-gvern għax ipprovdilhom impjieg. Hemm bżonn aktar provi dwar kif ġejna manipulati f’dawn il-fazzjonijiet u tilwim bla sens?

Wasal iż-żmien li ningħaqdu u nżommu l-valuri mgħoddija lilna mill-antenati tagħna matul is-snin. Ejja ngħollu leħinna kollettivament u nibqgħu ulied leali u veri tal-Belt Valletta. Jekk għadna Champions!

Dispersing the Valletta community

The situation in Valletta is deeply troubling. On one hand, we observe a government that is fixated on what it believes is the “regeneration of Valletta,” while on the other hand, we witness a community that has been subtly pressured to disintegrate.

Back in 2012, many of us were filled with excitement when Valletta was chosen by the European Commission, along with Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, to be the European Capital of Culture for 2018. I, too, was enthusiastic and made every effort to join the Valletta 2018 Foundation to contribute to the renewal of my beloved city. Unfortunately, we later discovered that the leaders behind this revitalization lacked genuine concern for the well-being of the city’s residents.

Instead, the Maltese Government, led by the Labour Party, which was later exposed as corrupt and driven by profit, focused solely on the economic aspects of this crucial initiative, ignoring the significant social and cultural impacts, despite these being well-documented and highlighted by the research team at the Valletta 2018 Foundation. While the government touted “a total economic impact of over €325M, a total generated investment of €678M in the Maltese economy, and a registered increase of 2.23% in 2018 GDP,” the Valletta community faced severe gentrification, resulting in the displacement of many residents, reducing their numbers to just a few thousand.

Although certain aspects of the city’s appearance were restored to their former beauty, the human element was neglected, causing many to leave and sever their ties with their hometown. A decade has passed, and the core spirit of the city now teeters on the edge of collapse, with little resistance, even from its creative, athletic, or political leaders. The situation deteriorates even further as an increasing number of community spaces are being transferred to private entities, with no direct consultation involving the community and no proper study conducted to assess its potential impact on the cultural heritage of the community.

Every genuine member of the Valletta community should reflect and acknowledge that if we continue to depend on the government and its representatives, our influence will remain susceptible to external pressures. Our leaders have cultivated a culture of division and domination, promoting divisiveness within our community.

Our once-independent voice and our formerly esteemed spirit have now been compromised, as has our city. I am weary of the divisive rhetoric that pits PL against PN, St. Paul against St. Dominic, residents against businesses, one local councilor against another, and so forth. I have had my fill of those who refrain from criticizing the government because it has provided them with public employment. Isn’t it clear that we have been manipulated into these meaningless factions and pointless disputes?

It is time for us to unite and uphold the values passed down to us by our ancestors throughout the years. Let us collectively raise our voices and remain loyal and true children of Valletta. If we’re still champions of our own destiny.

(Scroll down for the English version)

Darba waħda, waqt intervista smajt lil Silvio Schembri jgħid li “issa diffiċli nwaqqfu r-rota (ekonomika) milli tibqa’ ddur”.

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F’żgħożiti kont inqisni patrijott. Fit-tletinijiet ma kellix għalxiex nibqa’. Illum nemmen li issa tard wisq. Nibqa’ nemmen li l-froġa saret bi pjan, kemm fl-ambjent u wisq aktar fil-kultura u l-identità tal-poplu. U l-pjan kien suċċess. Għalhekk nibqa’ ntenni li dal-pajjiż spiċċut.

Fl-2006 Walter Micallef permezz ta’ “Malta fottewha” kien avżana mhux li d-dannu kien għadu ġej iżda li d-dannu kien diġà sar. llum, sittax-il sena wara, għadna qed ninżlu fit-toroq taħt l-għajta kajmana ta’: “Bidla fl-ambjent u fl-ippjanar issa”, meta r-reġina naħla ilha tant snin tistinka, taħdem u tbejjet il-qirda.

Jien li għadni ma sirtx ċiniku, u għadni noħlom f’xi ġenna tal-art, nemmen li l-ballun tas-silġ issa ilhu snin jitgerbeb ma’ żaqq il-muntanja, tant li diffiċli jew saħansitra mpossibbli twaqqfu milli jkompli jirrombla, jiżżaqqaq u jfarrak dak li jsib quddiemu. Fl-aħħar deċenni ġejna misqija kultura li rawwmitna f’poplu ġaħan u ladarba għannaqna din il-kultura ta’ tkabbir tal-ekonomija u tal-but, l-uniku tama tagħna u ta’ uliedna hija li xi darba l-ballun jasal fuq medda ta’ art f’saqajn il-muntanja u jitfarrak bina taħtu.

Jekk hemm kunċett politiku innovattiv f’moħħi li bħalissa nsiblu skop, dan huwa kunċett li kulħadd ser jiddieħak bih jew jitnaffar minnu. Kunċett ta’ ridimensjoni li fih il-mexxejja ta’ dan il-pajjiż daqs naqra jibdew proċess ta’ riabilitazzjoni/ditossifikazzjoni u treġġih lura lejn kwalità ta’ ħajja li tixraq fuq gżira. Dan ikun jinvolvi pjan serju fejn l-ekonomija tiġi ridimensjonata għall-popolazzjoni li teknikament tixraq lil din il-blata. Il-poplu ridimensjonat ikun imħeġġeġ jerġa’ jabita fiċ-ċentri tal-bliet u l-irħula u jerġa’ jinvesti flusu fit-twaqqiegħ ta’ proprejtà żejda u tibdil ta’ spazji mibnija, f’art rurali li toffri kwalità ta’ prodott u ħajja. Proċess fejn nieqfu naraw kbir, nieqfu naħsbu li Malta hija Tokyo, nieqfu nibnu torrijiet tal-Babilonja.

Nifhem li dan huwa kunċett li ħafna lanqas biss jistgħu jomgħodu għax rashom mgħaddsa f’loki jinten mimli flus, karozzi jleqqu, żejżiet kbar tal-plastik, pixxini u kumplessi ta’ superjorità fuq min jażżarda jgħid mod ieħor. Issib ġaħan differenti li waqt li jkun imwaħħal fit-traffiku u jgerger li dam sagħtejn biex wasal mill-Marsa sa Raħal Ġdid, jargumenta li jekk treġġa’ l-ippjanar ta’ pajjiż lura lejn figuri iktar baxxi, tissogra li titlef il-ġid. Ħaħaj!

Il-bidla tista’ ssir biss b’azzjoni prattika tal-poplu fit-toroq, kif kultant ġara fl-istorja ta’ pajjiżna.

Dalgħodu, għal raġunijiet personali, ma nistax inkun ma dawk il-mijiet li bil-mod il-mod qed jindunaw, għalkemm tard, li xi ħaġa mhux qegħda sew. J’alla fi ftit xhur jirrealiżżaw li spiċċa ż-żmien li nitkarrbu għarkubbtejna lill-mexxejja sabiex dawn ibiddlu r-rotta. L-ebda politiku li jibbaża l-filosofija ta’ tmexxija fuq ekonomija li dejjem obbligata tespandi ma jista’ jinstiga “bidla fl-ambjent u fl-ippjanar”. Il-bidla tista’ ssir biss b’azzjoni prattika tal-poplu fit-toroq, kif kultant ġara fl-istorja ta’ pajjiżna.

Fil-11 t’April 2009 ktibt dwar l-aljenazzjoni tal-Maltin u kif din kellha ġġib kundanna fuqhom. Għaxar snin ilu, l-installazzjonijiet artistiċi tiegħi: “The Gingerbread Men” u “The Death of Malta” fil-Kavalier ta’ San Ġakbu, kienu tentattiv kajman sabiex nispjega kif Malta kienet diġà pajjiż tradut u maqtul u li s-sens ta’ attiviżmu f’Malta, għalkemm bżonnjuż, seta’ jsarraf f’suf quddiem tant tradimenti. Fl-2019, ftit xhur wara qtil ta’ ġurnalista, b'”Consumatum Est” ridt intenni li issa kollox huwa mitmum.

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Grazzi lil dawk kollha li dalgħodu f’xi forma jew oħra ser jippruvaw ifehmu lil Silvio Schembri u sħabu, li xebbawna u li l-poplu qiegħed sa fl-aħħar jistenbaħ. Jekk tista’ kun hemm int ukoll. Noħlom iva, li xi darba l-poplu jinduna li jaqbillu jreġġa’ l-arloġġ lura.

During an interview, I once heard Silvio Schembri remark that it has become increasingly difficult to impede the continuous progress of the economy.

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In my younger years, I identified myself as a patriot, but as I entered my thirties, I found myself devoid of reasons to maintain that stance. Presently, I firmly believe that it is too late for any meaningful change for my country. I hold the belief that our nation’s decline was deliberately orchestrated, encompassing not only the environment but mainly the culture and identity of our people. This calculated plan has succeeded, leading me to repeatedly assert that our country is beyond redemption.

In 2006, Walter Micallef’s “Malta fottewha” served as a warning, not of imminent damage, but rather that the harm had already been inflicted. Sixteen years later, we continue to march the streets, carrying a subdued lament for “Change in the environment and planning now,” while the orchestrator of destruction, like a queen bee, tirelessly works towards her destructive goals.

Despite these circumstances, I have not yet succumbed to cynicism, and I still hold onto the hope of an idyllic world. However, I am of the belief that a metaphorical snowball has been steadily gaining momentum within the depths of the mountain for many years. Its continuous rolling, sliding, and crushing of everything in its path has become exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to impede. Over the past few decades, we have been fed a culture that has reduced us to mindless individuals. Once we embraced this culture of materialism and economic growth, our only hope, as well as that of our children, lies in the snowball eventually crumbling at the mountain’s base, taking us along with it.

If there is an innovative political concept currently occupying my mind, it is one that would likely be met with laughter or fear. It involves a concept of resizing, where the leaders of our small country initiate a process of rehabilitation and return it to a quality of life befitting an island. This would require a serious plan to resize the economy according to a population that suits our geographical constraints. The scaled-down population would be encouraged to reside in the city and village cores once again, while reinvesting their resources in the disposal of excess properties and replacing built environments with rural landscapes that offer a higher quality of life and produce. It is a process that requires us to abandon grandiosity, to stop perceiving Malta as Tokyo, and to cease constructing towers of Babylon.

I understand that this concept may be difficult for many to digest, as their minds are preoccupied with notions of wealth, luxurious cars, artificial enhancements, swimming pools, and a superiority complex that is imposed upon anyone who dares to think differently. A typical Maltese individual stuck in traffic, grumbling about a two-hour commute from Marsa to Paola, might argue that scaling down the economy could risk losing wealth. Oh, the horror!

This morning, for personal reasons, I will not be able to join the many individuals who are gradually awakening to the realization, albeit belatedly, that something is not right. Hopefully, in a few months’ time, they will come to realise that the era of pleading with leaders to alter their course is behind us. A politician who grounds their leadership principles in an ever-expanding economy cannot truly inspire “environmental and planning changes.” It is only through the practical actions of the people taking to the streets, as has occurred in our nation’s past, that genuine transformation can be achieved.

On April 11, 2009, I penned my thoughts in a poem about the estrangement of the Maltese people and how this should elicit condemnation. Ten years ago, I exhibited my artistic installations, “The Gingerbread Men” and “The Death of Malta,” at St James Cavalier, in an attempt to portray Malta as a betrayed and victimized creature. My intention was to communicate a clear message that, despite the importance of activism in Malta, it could ultimately yield little in the face of multiple betrayals. In 2019, a few months following the tragic murder of a journalist, my work “Consumatum Est” served as a reaffirmation that everything had reached its tragic end.

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I express my gratitude to everyone who, will make an effort to convey to Silvio Schembri and his acquaintances, who have exhausted our patience, that the people are finally awakening. If feasible, I encourage you to participate in the protest this morning. I truly envision a future where individuals will come to understand the significance of contemplating a reversal of time.

Hawn residenta f’San Vinċenz li ħadd ma jżurha. Ilna nafuha erba’ snin issa. Hija tal-1926. Id-demenzja tagħha twassalha tirrepeti frażijiet għal ħafna drabi. Ma kienx biżżejjed li tilfet id-dawl ta’ għajnejha. Snin ilu niftakarha fuq siġġu fil-kuritur, taqbad tgħid it-talba tar-Rużarju daqs li kieku hemm sala nies quddiemha: hi tgħid is-sliema u tħalli silenzju għall-qaddisa; li meta flejtu, indunajt li kien perfett appuntu għall-qaddisa. Aktar ‘l quddiem sirt naf li f’żgħożitha kienet tassew tgħid ir-Rużarju f’xi ċentru Marjan.

Illum erġajt kont hemm, kemmxejn bogħod minnha wara li żewġ infermiera dendluha minn fuq is-siġġu tar-roti għal fuq is-sodda. F’ħin minnhom irrealiżżajt li r-ripetizzjonijiet tagħha illum kellhom forma ta’ rakkont imkisser li sewwidli qalbi:

“Jiena xebba.
Ħuti ħallewni waħdi.
Ma jiġux jarawni.
Ħija miet żgħir.
Qabditu infection.
Agħmluli tè.
Libbsuni ż-żarbun ħa mmur id-dar.
Issa jiġi ħija jlibbisni ż-żarbun.
Il-kalzetti ma żaqqi qegħdin.
Ma lbisthomx il-kalzetti.
Issa inti trid tlibbisomli.
Jien bil-kalzetti kont.
Il-ġimgħa l-oħra wkoll hekk għamiltli.
Iż-żarbun.
Bil-kalzetti.
Trid tilbsu.
Biex takkwista l-kalzetti trid tixtrihom.”

Lebbtu ħfief das-sagħtejn u issa siktet mifnija tqaħqiegħ. Bħal donna ser torqod. Is-solitudni hawn hija kbira mmens, daqs il-karba ta’ lupu mnikket u mġewwaħ. Tobba u infermiera jistinkaw imma l-vojt tas-solitudni l-ebda mediċina jew ikel sħun ma timlieħ!

Tgħid xi darba xi ħadd għad jisma’ l-karba ta’ dawn l-anzjani? Ta’ Karmena mgħawwġa ganċ b’rasha mal-ħadid kiesaħ bla ħadd ma jinduna. Ta’ Giovanna li kultant twerżaq fit-tama li xi ħadd jibqa’ ħdejha fit-tul. Ta’ Marija bil-pupa quddiemha, tipprova tifhem fejn tinsab jew imqar li tkun kapaċi tlissen kelma.

Għaddew is-sagħtejn. Ħadd ma tfaċċa hawn ħlief is-solitudni tiżfen il-waltz. U fl-isfond, smajt biss iċ-ċapċipa ripetuta b’ritmu mkisser ta’ Franġiska, hemm fil-kantuniera, wiċċha lejn il-ħajt. Forsi qed tilmaħ dehra ta’ żminijiet passati jew futuri li fihom ruħha qed tiċċelebra.

Nota: Dan il-ħsieb qasir miktub illejla f’sala f’San Vinċenz inkiteb b’tislima lir-residenti kollha f’din ir-residenza tal-anzjani u lit-tobba u l-infermiera li għalkemm jagħmlu minn kollox għall-ġid tar-resident, jaħdmu f’sistema li tfalli fejn jidħol l-akkumpanjar psikoloġiku u emozzjonali tal-marid.

Għal dan ir-Randan xtaqt li nikteb ħsieb qasir kuljum; nimita ftit lil sħabi Edward u Alex u nikkontempla ħajti u lil hinn minnha. Biss l-impenji varji li ħajti mżewwqa bihom mhux dejjem jippermettuli l-lussu li nieqaf nifformula ħsieb fi kliem. Illum tfaċċa l-ewwel mument xieraq u xtaqt nibda b’riflessjoni dwar il-ħajja u tmiemha.
Bħal llum ġimgħa stenbaħna bl-aħbar kerha li Stella, in-nanna tal-mara, ħallietna. Għaddew bħal leħħa ta’ berqa s-siegħat u l-ġranet u fi ftit jiem iċċelebrajna ħajjet din il-mara maħbuba fil-knisja, il-ġmiel tagħha, ta’ San Girgor fir-raħal sbejjaħ taż-Żejtun.

Matul dawn il-ġranet kien hemm mumenti li fihom ftakart fil-pitturi tal-mewt it-tajba u l-mewt il-ħażina li ommi spiss kienet tirreferi għalihom fi tfuliti u li kienu jitqassmu lit-tfal li kienu jattendu l-MUSEUM. Lil hinn mill-ħsieb ta’ kemm ġid jew ħsara psikoloġika għamlu dawn il-pitturi lit-tfal, nemmen li l-mewt ta’ ruħ twajba tista’ tmissha b’idejk. Dan għaliex il-ħajja tat-tajjeb ma tintemmx imma toktor f’dawk li jkollhom ix-xorti jmissu magħha u l-ambjent ta’ madwarha.

Lil Stella ma kellix ix-xorti ngħixha fit-tul. Iltqajt magħha mhux aktar minn tlett darbiet iżda smajt ħafna dwarha mingħand uliedha, qrabatha u fuq kollox mingħand marti. Dakinhar li ltqajt magħha l-ewwel darba, niftakar li nisslet fija ħafna tbissim u ferħ speċjalment permezz tal-kummenti spontanji tagħha – u botti dwar il-Beltin. Għalkemm ikkundizzjonata minn marda kronika, Stella kellha karattru b’saħħtu, rett u ċajtier. Ħadd ma kien ser jgħaddi ż-żmien biha iżda fl-istess ħin kellha qalbha lesta biex troddha għal ħaddieħor u umoriżmu san li jħallilek tgħoma tajba. Sabiħa ferm is-sempliċità u l-enerġija ta’ persuna li l-ħajja għexitha fl-għożża tal-valuri.

Fl-aħħar snin u anki permezz ta’ Stella stajt nifhem aħjar kif ġisimna m’hu xejn ħlief għodda biex ir-ruħ twettaq dak li hu tajjeb u ġaladarba l-ġisem jgħejja, ir-ruħ tinħall sodisfatta u premjata b’dak li jkun twettaq u l-frott li jkattar tul iż-żminijiet. Iva, il-mewt tar-ruħ it-tajba jistħoqqilha ċelebrazzjoni u mhux niket.

Strieħ fis-sliem Stella!

Il-Macbook qatt ma reġa’ xegħel minn meta James kien tah l-aħħar nifs. Hemm għadu, mitluq fuq il-mejda ċkejkna li ħadem b’tant galbu n-nannu Ġuż, Alla jaħfirlu. U jien ukoll. Illum bqajt hawn mitluq fuq is-sodda l-antika taħt il-volum jgħajjat tat-televiżjoni; tipiku ta’ għodwa għand missieri li minn dejjem iddelitta bil-films. Fl-aħħar snin Netflix qatel xi ftit mill-monotonija tal-ħajja wara l-mard li ġie jżur darna u serqilna lill-mama.

Bħas-soltu qallibt Facebook ta’ malajr; dejjem bi sforz li nevita argumenti inutli jew argumenti ta’ nies b’ħajja jew atteġġjament inutli. Fuq tumblr serraħt ftit għajnejja f’ritratti mill-isbaħ ta’ forom femminili li jgħinuni nżomm il-metafora tal-ħajja għaddejja u x-xrara tal-arti mixgħula. Proċess ta’ riċerka mhux wisq viżiva iżda emozzjonali, li jakkumpanja l-għatx dejjem jikber għas-sbuħija, għall-sbuħija eterna; għal Alla.

Konxju li twelidt f’pajjiż li tgħallem jistmerr is-sbuħija. Twelidt qalb poplu li mingħalih li s-sbuħija tinsab fil-lussu, fil-possessjonijiet u fil-kumdità. U spiss niftakar f’Vince Briffa li lura fis-snin sfidana bl-argument tas-sbuħija. Vince li forsi b’modi li stajt nifhem aktar minn ta’ Kristu, wassalni nagħraf is-sbuħija fid-dlam u fit-tbatija. U dan ikkonfermajtu snin wara anki fi kliem Battiato.

Bħall-Macbook anki dan il-ġisem għad ma jixgħelx aktar iżda mhux is-sbuħija. Dan nemmnu iktar illum meta nilmaħ l-ipokriti li waqt li illum jiċċelebraw l-Indipendenza ta’ nieshom għadhom qed jixxuttaw id-dmugħ li bkew meta bil-popcorn fuq ħoġorhom segwew il-funeral tar-Reġina Eliżabetta II.