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Anglu Xuereb proposes six projects to regenerate economy
New infrastructural projects, intended to regenerate the national economy and also kick-start a stagnant construction industry were proposed this morning.
12 October 2011, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
1 min read
The proposals made by Anglu Xuereb – President of the Federation of Building and Developers Association include a sports centre and car park in Floriana, a super yachts centre in Sliema, a yacht marina in Salina, reconstruct primary schools, regenerate the old Marsa power station site and the former St. Luke’s Hospital site.
Addressing a business breakfast themed ‘Where is the property industry going?’ organised by the Malta Developers Association, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors and the Chamber of Architects, Anglu Xuereb said his association is conscious of the fact that the current economic situation has halted most of the construction activity.
“We know that apartment supply has exceeded demand, but we are pro-active and want to kick-start the economy,” Xuereb said, adding that on the same basis as previous projects such as the Valletta Cruise Passenger Terminal, government could reap enormous benefits.
Xuereb said that the construction industry contributes 12% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Through private public partnership schemes, government can help regenerate the economy by being a protagonist and assist in straying from the traditional trend of simply allowing apartments to be built.
Jon Sciberras •
St.Luke's site should be earmarked as another hospital (say with the funds of the red cross and not to another Mizzi millionaire scheme for free). One hospital and 2 private hospitals are not enough. I think its all fantasy really, unless they are given for free and some 'nice guy' turns them into millions.
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We do not need any mega stupid projects projecting the barbaric uglification of our country. Please do not touch Salina. We do not need another yacht marina here also!!! On the other hand projects like improving schools, using the old hospital and regenerating its use, regenerating Marsa etc. If these are done properly and restore the beauty of these places these are welcome.
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another way to restart the economy would be that of lower the tax rates - which would give more spending power. the projects mentioned by Mr. Xuereb would generate some form kick to the economy but we all know that certain big projects are structured for a small number of developers and thus any benefits would remain in their pockets.
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Building a viable Public Transport System that works, gets you there faster and is more convenient to use than your car - now that would have been a good way to regenerate the industry! What we have now is a bus on the same grid locked roads as the car you are in - only it gets you there even slower! The money instead went into LEGAL fees for friends of Austin Gatt - like Sapiano. I would love to know what this work was - PLEASE DO PUBLISH - we paid for it!
Redeveloping the St lukes site into a financial center is an idea worth pursuing. Many of the others would be good for the developers but not do much for the economy.
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I think we need a break from all these property building projects at the moment. Malta's unemployment reate is not high, so why waste resources at this time. Or is it because we have a large poor of cheap illegal migrants that we can tap into for the construction industry. What happens when all these projects dry up. In Malta we have seen buildings going up all over the place. we are acting like Dubai, where they have at least the money, but all the massive buildngs they have built are sitting empty. But they have money. Does Malta have that kind of money. Plus, our land size is way too small for all this building. WE need to maintain our little land we have. Where are the NGOs.
