[WATCH] PD wants Auditor General to investigate change of SmartCity land use

Short end of the stick for citizens, PD warns

The Democratic Party has called on the Auditor General to investigate why the company that had been granted the rights to develop SmartCity, had changed the use of part of the land from commercial to residential, generating a huge increase in the value of the land.

Addressing a press conference outside SmartCity, PD leader Marlene Farrugia said the party will also be asking the Auditor General to investigate why the government, with its 10% stake in SmartCity, had not taken action to stop the ownership of the land changing hands with residential units already being sold on plan.

The PD argued that it was not against sustainable development as land needs to be used to the  full benefit of all the citizens.

"SmartCity was born 11 years ago, when the Nationalist government granted the land and permits for the development of a technology hub," Farrugia said. 

"The company was bound to invest some €300 million and create around 5,000 jobs."

The Partit Demokratiku said the Auditor General should investigate the change of use

She noted that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had bemoaned the fact the plan for SmartCity had stalled. 

"Now he too has changed his stance because we now know the developer is selling residential units in the Shoreline development," she said. 

Answering questions by the media, Farrugia referred to the PN leadership contest and said she still believed the four contenders were non-starters and that she would have liked to see more candidates. 

"I also believe the PN should have opened the election to all party members to avoid any cliques taking control of the process."