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Bħalissa moħħ u qalb kull belti u beltija huma kkunsmati mhux ftit dwar il-possibiltà dejjem tikber li l-klabb tant għażiż tal-Valletta FC jispiċċa relegat mill-Kampjonat Premier għaċ-Challenge League. Bir-raġun din ir-realtà tinkwetana mhux ftit għax tnaqqrilna parti mill-identità rebbieħa u kburija li tul is-snin tant identifikajna magħha bħala komunità. Filwaqt li dan l-inkwiet qed iberren f’rasna, ftit huma dawk li jirrealiżżaw kif lil hinn mill-ballun, il-Beltin ilhom relegati minn art twelidhom, għal numru ta’ snin.
Filwaqt li uħud jiċċelebraw it-trasformazzjoni reċenti ta’ beltna f’destinazzjoni turistika mfittxija, huwa importanti li ngħarfu n-narrattiva usa’ u nirrikonoxxu kif fl-aħħar snin il-Belt Valletta ġiet żviluppata f’belt estetikament sabiħa iżda bla ruħ u bi ftit sensittività lejn il-komunità li tgħix fiha.
Lura fis-snin meta ma’ sieħbi Dr Victor Jacono kont naħdem fuq proġett għall-komunità fil-Belt Valletta, uħud esprimew kif lill-Belt Valletta iqabbluha ma’ omm, jew tfajla/mara maħbuba. Niftakar kif uħud kienu esprimew kif lura fis-snin dan il-mit ta’ mara maħbuba sfat mitluqa, bla ebda kura lejn id-dehra tagħha u saħħitha. Madanakollu kienet mara li uliedha Beltin kienu jgħarfu u li għaliha dawn l-ulied kienu lesti jgħamlu minn kollox. Kienet omm xi ftit fraġli li taf tilqa’ lill-uliedha u ttihom dar fejn jitrawwmu u jfasslu l-identità tagħhom.
Fis-snin aktar qrib tfaċċaw barranin li ddeċidew li din il-mara kellha bżonn tieħu r-ruħ. Idea intrinsikament tajba li kellha eżekuzzjoni partikolari. Dawn ħaduha għand professjonista li ħaslitha, fewħitilha l-ġilda, imlietha foundation u make up, kabbritilha sidirha filwaqt li żebgħatilha xufftejha ħomor nar u libsitha l-isbaħ ilbies. Il-barranin qalulha li minn issa ‘l quddiem riedet tattira lit-turist u tinsa l-wens li kienet trodd lill-uliedha. Hi bkiet imma ma kelliex triq oħra ħlief li tara lill-uliedha jitilquha għax ma baqgħux jgħarfuha. Isimha baqa’ jidwi f’qalbhom imma l-barranin li ħakmuha, għalkemm bla ruħ, kellhom is-saħħa tal-flus. Il-barranin qalu lil uliedha li issa jistgħu jbiegħu darhom lill-pjan tagħhom u jsiru sinjuri żgħar.
Simili kien id-destin tax-xjuħ tagħha. Wara tant snin li ddedikaw lilha, ħafna minnhom kellhom jippakkjaw ħwejjiġhom u jerħulha lejn bliet u rħulha oħra fejn sabu min jospitahom. Għax l-ebda ħadd ma ried jinvesti f’dar għall-anzjani. Fejn qatt kont tobsor li l-Pampalun kellu jħalli din id-dinja f’dar tal-anzjani f’Ħal Luqa! Fejn qatt kont tobsor li esponenti kbar fil-kultura Beltija jinsabu jqattgħu l-aħħar snin ta’ ħajjithom lil hinn mill-Kapitali!
Illum il-Belt Valletta, din il-mara sabiħa saret trodd ġisimha lil kull turist lokali jew barrani li jiġi jużaha. Kmamar għalihom kemm trid, għax dawk jiġġeneraw l-aktar flus. Ikel, té, kafé, xi knisja u mużew għat-turist twajjeb. Imma mkien ma jista’ isib ftit togħma ta’ dak li kienu snajja u kreattività lokali. Ix-xalatur għandu sas-siegħa jew is-sagħtejn ta’ filgħodu jitpaxxa u jintilef fi sbuħitha; bil-mużika, bil-birra, whiskey, ġin u linja coke. Wara li jirremetti l-pjaċir kollu, jerħilha lejn soddtu sa ma jgħaddu l-ġranet u jmur lura lejn pajjiżu. Illum il-Belt Valletta trodd ruħha lill-barrani sinjur li jiġi jinvesti flusu fiha biex jgħid li hu binha mingħajr ma jagħraf ħajjet din l-omm għażiża; mingħajr ma jaf kif din l-omm rawmet lill-vera uliedha tul is-snin.
Il-Kapitali Valletta regalata lit-turist, relegata għall-medjokrità ta’ belt bla identità fejn uliedha jistgħu biss jarawha minn barra, filwaqt li jixjieħu u jixxenqu li jerġgħu jaraw lil Godwin jiġbor lit-tfal għall-maħżen f’Sant Iermu, li jaraw lill-Maxi u lil Gilbert irebbħuhom kampjonat u jiċċelebrawh flimkien f’Sada Rjala, li jaraw lis-subien u l-bniet jinġabru għall-MUSEUM f’Sada Sant’Ursola, lil Salvu jbiegħ il-boċċi… u tant aktar realtajiet sbieħ li l-barranin għoġobhom imewtu.
Għada l-grupp Residenti Beltin qed jorganizza protesta sabiex il-Gvern iwaqqaf in-negozjati dwar il-binja tal-Evans u jinvesti dan l-ispazju sabiex joffri dar ta’ mistrieħ, attività u kura lill-anzjani Beltin. Nittama li dawk il-Beltin li għad għandhom demmhom ibaqbaq, ikunu hemm fil-11:00am sabiex isemmgħu leħinhom, qabel jitilgħu Ta’ Qali jissapportjaw b’ħeġġa lill-Valletta FC li ser jilgħabu kontra Ħamrun Spartans fis-2:00pm.
Relegated citizens – Evans Building
At present, the minds and hearts of every citizen are preoccupied with concerns about the increasing likelihood of our beloved football club, Valletta FC, being demoted from the Premier League to the Challenge League. This situation worries us because it undermines our sense of winning identity and pride that we have cultivated over the years. While we grapple with this issue, few realize that beyond the realm of football, the city itself has been experiencing relegation for several years.
Whilst many celebrate our city’s recent awakening as a sought-after tourist destination, it is essential to acknowledge this transformation and understand how Valletta has been reduced to a beautiful yet soulless toy which transpires little to no sensitivity towards its residential community.
Reflecting on my past work with ex-colleague Dr Victor Jacono on a community project in Valletta, some individuals likened Valletta to a beloved mother, or a girl/wife. They recalled how, in the past, this cherished myth was neglected, with no concern for her well-being. In spite of her delicate nature, she was a mother cherished deeply by her children, who were prepared to go to any lengths for her. Over time, strangers arrived, deciding that this woman needed a makeover. They brought her to professionals who cleansed her, repaired her skin, applied foundation and makeup, enhanced her lips, and painted them a vibrant red. Dressed in her most exquisite attire, the strangers instructed her to focus on attracting tourists, neglecting the nurturing care she once provided for her children. Despite her tears, she had no choice but to witness her children depart because they no longer recognized her. Although her name still echoed in their hearts, the soulless strangers in control, empowered by wealth, persuaded her children to sell their home and aspire to become affluent individuals.
Similar fate befell her elderly, who dedicated years to her but had to leave, seeking hosts in distant towns and villages. There is no home for the elderly in our capital city! Who would have thought that “il-Pampalun” would end up in a nursing home in Luqa? Who would have thought that great figures in Valletta culture are now spending their last years away from the capital?
Today, Valletta, a beacon of beauty, caters to the desires of every tourist. Accommodations are readily available, catering to their preferences, as they yield the highest profits. The discerning tourist can enjoy a variety of offerings such as food, tea, coffee, visits to churches, and museums. However, what’s notably absent is a genuine taste of the local crafts and creativity that once defined the essence of the city. Whether local or foreign, those who come to experience the city revel in its charm until the early hours, often accompanied by live music until around 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. After fully immersing themselves in pleasure, they expel it all beside a palazzo before retiring to their accommodations until their departure back to their home countries. Currently, Valletta is surrendered to wealthy outsiders who invest in it, claiming a false sense of kinship without acknowledging the genuine life this beloved city has nurtured among its true inhabitants over the years.
Presently, Valletta yields to affluent investors who inject funds without acknowledging the city’s profound history. While the capital expresses gratitude to tourists, the consequence is a descent into a city lacking a distinct identity. Valletta’s authentic inhabitants can merely watch from a distance as they grow older, reflecting on times when Godwin used to gather the children into his Carnival warehouse in St Elmo, football championships were clinched by Maxi and Gilbert, whilst Salvu sold all kind of stationery, and traditional toys as boys and girls filled St Ursola Street for MUSEUM gatherings. So many realities that strangers worked hard to dissolve into thin air.
The Residenti Beltin group is planning a protest tomorrow, urging the Government to cease negotiations on the Evans building and allocate this space for the establishment of a facility catering to the needs of the elderly in Valletta, providing rest, activities, and care. I encourage all Valletta residents with fervent spirits to join the gathering at 11:00am to ensure this call is heard. They can later drive to Ta’ Qali National stadium in support of Valletta F.C. playing Ħamrun Spartans at 2:00pm.
