Ġnien Dun Nicholas Cachia in Siġġiewi was inaugurated by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli, together with members of the Siġġiewi Local Council and the Project Green team.

An area of around 1,000 square metres that had been intended for development has now been transformed into an open space commemorating the memory of Dun Nicholas Cachia, a much-respected priest from Siġġiewi.

During the inauguration, Minister Miriam Dalli said that Ġnien Dun Nicholas Cachia is among 75 open spaces opened during this legislature. “Once again, we are inaugurating an open space that had been earmarked for development, but this Government took the decision to give it back to the community as an open space instead. This is the promise we will continue to deliver on; we set out with the aim of ensuring that more communities can enjoy open spaces within 10 minutes’ distance. This space is located close to around 4,800 residents and offers a place where residents can come and spend some quiet time,” said Minister Dalli.

Project Manager David Ellul noted that, on this project, there was full collaboration with the Siġġiewi Local Council, and today the area is an open space instead of an apartment block. “Once again, we ensured that sustainability principles were followed, including by using soil found on the site itself. We also included plants that are not only visually attractive but also support pollinators. CCTVs and solar-powered bollards were also installed,” he said.

Dun Nicholas Cachia was a priest from Siġġiewi who was very active in local society. He worked to modernise the Church’s means of communication so that its message could reach Maltese families. In 2015, Dun Nicholas continued his pastoral work in Florida, in the United States, where he later passed away in 2021.

Dun Nicholas Cachia’s family was also present for the inauguration.