Giving Sadeen public land ‘is no national project’, Front tells Schembri

Front Harsien ODZ has told parliamentary secretary for lands Deborah Schembri that the American University of Malta that will be built at Zonqor Point by Jordanian construction group Sadeen, “should not be considered as a national project.”

The group, created in the aftermath of the government’s announcement that Sadeen would be granted land at Marsaskala, told Schembri in a meeting that the company should not be granted an unfair advantage over other private projects through the granting of public land, outside development zones.

“Sadeen’s non-American non-University will acquire public land at a highly reduced price, of valuable public space and land outside development zones,” the Front said.

The school is only licensed as a higher education institute so far by the national commission for further and higher education.

“Depicting the transfer of public assets into private hands as a ‘national project’ is highly deceptive.  If the government really means not to encroach on ODZ land, it should start by foregoing the Sadeen development in Marsaskala.”

The Front said it had noted government’s recent statement not to propose new projects on ODZ areas, but this should translate in to a clear commitment not to develop a race-track and yacht marina on ODZ land.  “It should be a clear commitment against land reclamation projects impacting on the ODZ coastal areas. Besides, all proposed initiatives such as the tunnel from Malta and Gozo require comprehensive studies before being considered.”

Front Harsien ODZ appealed to Schembri to retain the stance of the previous administration against the development of Villas at Ta’ Cenc, which is currently being considered by MEPA.