‘Fort Ricasoli for American University’ – AD

Alternattiva Demokratika have called on the government to site the American University at Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara, rather than at Zonqor Point in Marsaskala.

“While the American University idea is a good one, having it sited on virgin land is an extremely bad idea and will continue to contribute to the destruction of public natural open spaces,” AD chairperson Arnold Cassola said of a government proposal to build a new private university campus for 4,000 students in virgin land in the south of the island.

The government says the land is ‘abandoned farmland’.

“Describing the land as abandoned is just an excuse. This open land can be taken care of and restored to its natural beauty,” Cassola said, warning that building the new private university at Zonqor Point will create serious traffic problems in Zabbar and Marsaskala.

“Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara covers 70,000 square metres, and is crying out to be restored and put to a good use,” Cassola said, adding that a university at the fort will “create synergy with Smart City, just a stone’s throw away”.

“The Smart City project would undoubtedly be in a position to cater for any shortfall in area for the future expansion of the American University,” Cassola said, describing his proposal as a “win-win” situation for the whole country.

The €115 million Jordanian investment was originally proposed outside development zones in the vicinity of Zonqor Point in Marsaskala and is scheduled to cover 90,000 square metres of agricultural land, 90% of which is government-owned.

Environmental NGOs contacted to MaltaToday have expressed their outrage that the university could be constructed on ODZ, and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has scheduled a meeting with them.

Muscat has said that the planning authority will consider alternative sites in the south of Malta, while Environment Minister Leo Brincat said that “ideally” the project should not be built in an ODZ area.

Although it has yet to submit its planning application, the American University has already submitted university courses for accreditation.