PM contradicted over Ta’ Qali concerts and green grass

Prime Minister Robert Abela’s recent statements regarding the controversial gravel laid on the Ta’ Qali picnic area are being contested, with well-informed sources insisting that Abela was either “inventing” or misinformed.

Last weekend, to defend the Ta’ Qali mishap, Abela admitted that the project led by Jason Micallef “had gone awry” but assured the public that the grass would be restored. He added that the restoration would be delayed due to upcoming concerts.

“We will not be making this intervention now, as from April, the area will be hosting concerts, and it won’t be the right time. However, after the concerts are done, the intervention will happen,” the Prime Minister told his interviewer.

However, The Shift has learned that no concerts are scheduled for the area this spring.

“The PM must have been fed the wrong information,” said a senior official at the Infrastructure Ministry, responsible for Ta’ Qali.

“The only concert that is scheduled to take place this year, as in previous years, is Summer Daze, which is held during the week of Santa Marija. In mid-August, there was never any grass in the area,” the source added.

The discrepancy has raised questions about whether Abela was attempting to “buy time” or simply relaying unverified information.

Further doubts emerged regarding the Prime Minister’s claim that a “grass expert” had been advising the government on the restoration project.

Ministry sources confirmed to The Shift that no such expert has been contracted.

“If the PM intervened personally to hire some expert, we would normally know. At this stage, the OPM has not informed us about anything of the sort,” the official said.

Attempts by The Shift to obtain details from the Prime Minister’s office, including a list of scheduled concerts or the identity of the purported grass consultant, were met with silence.

Environmental NGOs continue to voice concern over the gravel intervention, calling for transparency and a clear plan to restore the picnic area to its former green state.

The intervention was commissioned by Jason Micallef last summer, before the Summer Daze concert. Following harsh criticism, the government appointee insisted that grass will grow again in autumn as soon as rainfall starts. However, this has not happened, leading to backlash and ridicule towards the Labour administration.