Prime Minister solicits public online for alternatives to Zonqor

The Office of the Prime Minister has launched a webpage calling for alternative sites to be proposed for the siting of the ‘American’ university that Jordanian construction firm Sadeen Group wants to build.

The government originally instructed both the government property department and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to identity a public parcel of land in the south of the island big enough to take the construction of a 4,000 student campus.

The public outrage that followed, after MEPA selected Zonqor Point – a piece of land originally forming part of an area designated for a natural park back in 2006 – has now led Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to consider splitting the campus over two sites.

Originally no public consultation or development briefs were resorted to in earmarking Zonqor Point for the construction of Sadeen’s university. No public tender was issued for Sadeen to be hand-picked for the construction of the private university.

Now the Office of the Prime Minister is asking the public to propose “alternative” sites, without establishing any criteria on location or planning designations.

Users will be required to submit their names, ID card numbers, email and telephone numbers to propose their ideas.