SmartCity agreement “close”, says minister

Government is “edging closer” to conclude the much awaited agreement with Dubai based Tecom, for the development of SmartCity Malta.
Speaking during a press confer­ence yesterday, during which he announced cabinet’s decision to relocate the projected sewage treatment plant from Ricasoli to San Anard, IT and investments minister Austin Gatt juggled with words while answering a specific question by MaltaToday whether a final agreement on SmartCity had been concluded, and prompted government to act swiftly to avoid a sewage plant within the multi-mullion dollar project.
Austin Gatt replied, “when we went on site with the investors they definitely didn’t like the idea of hav­ing a sewage plant where they would be spending 300 million dollars”.
While not directly replying to our question, Austin Gatt uttered, “we are close,” as the media present repeat­ed the question at the end of the press conference.
The SmartCity issue was also a hot point of contention during last Friday’s edition of Xarabank that discussed the budget.
A heated argument developed between Finance Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech and MLP Deputy leader Charles Mangion.
When the programme started to discuss employment, Tonio Fench brought out a VHS video tape and tried to hand it to presenter Peppi Azzopardi.
The tape was a recording of One TV show “Bla Agenda,” that last week aired an interview made by presenter Norman Hamilton in Dubai with the chief executive to Tecom.
Tonio Fenech insisted that it was shameful for the MLP to even think of making such interviews that put “ridiculous” questions to the Dubai investors, repeatedly questioning the Tecom CEO about job guarantees, and real estate.
“Shame on you, you are saying that the MLP is not even remotely interested in the creation of 4,500 jobs,” said an enraged Tonio Fenech pointing his fingers towards Notary Charles Mangion, who immediately reacted to the accusation.
While Peppi Azzopardi tried to calm both politicians, Tonio Fenech remarked that he hopes that Charles Mangion will not be the notary to the final land contract as had taken place when the MLP openly criticised the sale of Pender Place. Notary Mangion had been the notary in this sale.
At this point, a furious Charles Mangion confronted Tonio Fenech insisting that he retracts what he said, adding that he is “proud” of his profession, and that should he be involved in a contract, it would be “clients who request it”.
An evidently surprised Peppi Azzopardi stepped in between Tonio Fenech and Charles Mangion, diverting the discussion to economist Lino Briguglio who took the opportunity to remind the presenter that the discussion was meant to be about the budget, and “not cheap politics”.