Understanding the Valletta community

Abstract

Valletta is the Capital City of Malta. All citizens of this Country are affianced with Valletta. The beauty of this city is second to none. As a Faculty, in collaboration with a number of stakeholders, we attempted to locate some important issues that have potentially impacted the liveability of this community. As per introduction of the report; ‘This paper discusses findings of a mixed-methods case study on community development with special attention to liveability issues of island state communities that would have held the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) title. The case study context is Valletta – capital city of former colony and EU island state Malta. Valletta held the ECoC title during 2018 (European Commission (EC), n.d.). The empirical study was informed by data contributions from Valletta residents; as well as by government and cultural elites who influenced, to varying degrees, how regeneration and development occurred in Valletta between 2014 and 2019. This timeframe covers the period before, during and exactly after 2018 - when Valletta held the ECoC title (V18).’ Notwithstanding we are such a small Island the complexities that one finds from one town or village to another and even within the same locality is incredible and makes it exciting to research. This study we hope has managed to localise a number of issues that if one reads well into the empirical data can inform our decision makers to take the much-needed actions. Kudos to all the team that was involved in this project.