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AUM land transfer approved in 15-hour session where PN insist Jordanians are not setting up university
Land transfer for Sadeen's private 'American University of Malta' is approved by the House after all-nighter session that lasted until 9:30am, a full 15 hours of non-stop debate • live-blog
Last updated on 16 December 2015, 9:30am
Miriam Dalli
Miriam Dalli
2 min read
The House of Representatives pulled an all-nighter to discuss and conclude a parliamentary motion for the transfer of two sites to Jordanian construction company Sadeen Group.
Sadeen will construct a private university at Zonqor and Dock No. 1 in Bormla.
Front Harsien ODZ has decried “the rushed process through which government is selling public domain”, saying that the government had failed to publish its heads of agreement with Sadeen group, bypassed the parliamentary environment committee and ignored advice from MEPA on sustainable alternatives to Zonqor.
Zonqor Point and Dock 1 will be granted to Sadeen by title of temporary emphyteusis for a period of 99 years. It cannot be converted into a perpetual one. Ground rent starts at €40,000 in the first year and increases gradually to more than €1 million by the 31st year.
Throughout the term of the grant, the permitted use of the designated land "shall be solely and exclusively educational".
Sadeen will take out an insurance policy of €2.5 million. A list of conditions allow the government to dissolve the grant, including failure to complete the project within a year the limit set in the deed and if the property is used for any purpose other than the permitted use.
A copy of the draft deed was passed on to members of parliament last week.
Always subject to the time when the accreditation is issued, AUM shall start temporary operations with the first intake of students from Bormla site by not later than 31 October 2016. If the accreditation is not issued by then, the contract falls through.
AUM may avail itself on an option to start its foundation courses at Smart City before moving its campuses to Dock 1 and Zonqor Point.
The Opposition remains against the use of Zonqor Point, after MEPA concluded that a site in Tarxien fits the necessary requirements. The government argues that the site, within development zone, is earmarked for a social housing project.
Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...
The request for the decision was made by the Opposition leader: the contract refers to the transfer of land for the purpose of setting up in the Malta the “American University of Malta”. But because the project will first be accredited as a higher educational institution, before it can proceed to receive the title as a university, the Opposition has argued that this is not a university.
The government has argued that the opposition was “mixing issues” and the Education Minister also said that, in Malta, there were higher education institutions that offered courses at Masters of PhD levels.
The opposition leader however pointed out that the law precluded a higher education institution from calling itself “a university”. Bartolo insisted that receiving accreditation as a higher education institution was part of “a rigorous process” to ensure high standards.
The impasse follows a 14-hour debate on the parliamentary resolution, which started yesterday at 6.30pm.
"We are proud of the high standards we're setting."
“You have raped Malta,” he says.
He reiterates that the government has misled the public in calling it a university, because the process will see the project kicked off as a higher education institution.
To be accredited as a university by the NCHE, Sadeen Education Investments Ltd have first applied for a higher education institution accreditation, on the advice of the Education Minister.
Little discussion on the actual contract took place – the government was accused of riding roughshod over everyone; the opposition was accused of being negative and against investment.
“Is this a disco or what?” Bezzina asks Farrugia as one of the MPs plays music on his mobile.
“Well, it’s 4.20am … please continue … no one is interrupting you and they’re listening to you,” the Speaker replies with a smile.
"No one is against the project but against the theft of public land at Zonqor Point," Marlene Farrugia says, raising a point of order.
Mizzi adds that “they” used to ridicule him in parliament for the way he pronounced the word “tieghi” [mine]: “That is how you used to treat people from the south.”
“Another truth is that you are not here to contribute to the discussion but your goal is to generate scaremongering. The truth is that all they [opposition] cares about is power.”
The directors, shareholders, legal representatives and judicial representatives are Hani Hasan Naji Salah and Rakan Hani Hasan Salah.
“The most ridiculous part is an individual approaching a government with no experience and nothing in hand and an agreement is reached.”
The definition refers to what ‘American University’ is and not a definition of the emphyteuta.
“Likewise, you should look up the definition of what’s ethical and understand how you could give a job to your own wife.”
In order to avoid any fights, the Speaker told Pullicino to address the Chair: “I know it’s 3am and we’re tired but let’s keep going.”
“I also think that this contract lacks a general master plan on how the development will be carried out. It is being left in MEPA’s hands; but past contracts included the permitted land use.”
Grech adds that the use of the word ‘American’ is too generous.
"This is just a speculative investment."
“This is not a real estate project, unlike [Smart] Desert City.”
He goes on to refer to “Net News reporters” chasing away individuals interested in the IIP and, at the same time, the most legal and accountancy firms working closely on the IIP are “PN militants”.
“The only difference between Tarxien site and Zonqor Point is that the latter is in outside development zone.”
“MEPA was against it, and yet government steamed ahead.”
Brincat said that, like he has come out against proposals to develop three hotels in on virgin land stretching from Smart City to Zonqor Point he will come out against project that do not make sense.
“However, I cannot understand the hypocrisy of some who suddenly do not want to refer the south.”
Government whip Godfrey Farrugia points out that the words “retail outlets” have been deleted from the contract.
“The investor is merely businessman, of which we have thousands in Malta. I am sure that if the government had to give the project to the Maltese, the end results would have been, by far better.”
“If government thought that we would not come prepared or that we would give up because of the late hours, it was wrong.”
Fenech Adami is on a roll, saying that the Labour government was trying “to emulate” past leaders of the Nationalist government: “They compare themselves to Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi, who brought to Malta HSBC and Microsoft. What does this government has to say about itself? It brought Sadeen.”
Quoting the President in the delivery of her Republic Day speech, De Marco said “unbridled development was putting the environment at risk”.
He argues, that there should have been a process to choose the investor “and not following a meeting between one investor and the Prime Minister”.
He says, he cannot understand the criticism of lack of transparency after “all analyses and studies carried out were tabled in parliament”.
Mangion admits that an original decision to locate AUM at Zonqor Point may have been taken “rashly”: “But we stopped and listened.”
“I think both parties agree that we can use education to attract investment, just like English language schools have served to build us a good reputation.”
Bartolo said that Malta, if it works seriously, could tap into the new market that sees students seeking to study in Europe.