Front want AUM agreement published before Parliament breaks for summer recess

Front Harsien ODZ warn that government's delay in publshing Heads of Agreement it had signed with Sadeen is 'raising suspicion that agreement are being made behind the publc's back'. 

Hani Salah (centre) chairman of the Sadeen Group, signs the heads of agreement with economy and education ministers Chris Cardona (left) and Evarist Bartolo
Hani Salah (centre) chairman of the Sadeen Group, signs the heads of agreement with economy and education ministers Chris Cardona (left) and Evarist Bartolo

Front Harsien ODZ has called on the Prime Minister to publish a Heads of Agreement it had signed with Jordanian construction firm Sadeen before Parliament breaks up for summer recess.

The agreement relates to Sadeen being allowed to construct and run the private ‘American University of Malta’, originally proposed at land outside development zones at Zonqor Points in the limits of Marsaskala.

“The agreement should be published before Parliament closes for the summer holidays, so as to enable a transparent and open debate in Malta's highest political institution,” FHO spokesperson Reuben Zammit told a press conference outside Parliament. “Otherwise, it will be clear that Government is intending to proceed with the development process on ODZ land in Zonqor in Summer, thus avoiding parliamentary scrutiny.

"A few days we organised Malta's biggest ever environmental protest and we urged Government to publish the agreement with Sadeen immediately. This appeal was also made by the Front on Xarabank, yet to date, we have only been told that Government will publish it when it deems fit to do so. This only raises suspicion that agreements are being made behind the public's back. This government was elected on the promise of transparency but is now signing deals under the table.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this week that the university campus will be spit in two, with part of it being built in Marsaskala and part of it built elsewhere in the south.

FHO spokesperson James Debono called on Muscat to explain whether the Zonqor development is still on the table.

“We have no problem with the construction of a university in Marsaskala, so long as it isn’t at Zonqor or any other places outside development zones,” he said.