Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/513060
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 MAY 2015 4 News MIRIAM DALLI LABOUR backbencher Mar- lene Farrugia has upped the ante against the proposed development of a university at Zonqor Point in Marsaskala, urging people "not to be fooled" by promises of a nation- al park. Posting on Facebook, the MP claimed that social media were her "only medium" to reach out to constituents because she was not being invited on Labour TV chan- nel ONE TV. "I remained loyal to you, speak- ing on your behalf. I never betrayed you," she said. In an attempt to explain her firm position against the proposed de- velopment on virgin land, Farrugia said the issue was one of national interest, above partisan politics. "I understand those who are find- ing it hard to comprehend why this is important because you are vic- tims of a strong propaganda ma- chine which is costing the work- ers' party dearly and exposing it to obligations forcing it to do what it doesn't want to," she said. She also accused Labour in gov- ernment of "blindly working in fa- vour of those who had the money and against families struggling to make ends meet" and of suffer- ing of an inferiority complex that makes it so willing to give away farmers' land to foreigners. She said a balance could exist be- tween attracting investment, creat- ing jobs and safeguarding citizens' rights. Farrugia has in the past broken ranks with Labour over such issues as the sale of citizenship, the lack of transparency in Labour's sale of a 33% stake in Enemalta to Chi- nese government-owned Shanghai Electric Power, and Joseph Mus- cat's unproven record in creating a culture of meritocracy in public appointments. Describing herself as the daugh- ter of a labourer, Farrugia said she would never forget her past: "We never had large gardens and going for walks and picnics in the coun- tryside or spending time fishing was how we spent our time. What I enjoyed during my childhood is what I want future generations to enjoy too." Farrugia said industry, landfills or "supposed investment" took over beaches in the south. She said that no one knew how much land was passed on to the Chinese investors with the Chinese acquisition of shares in Enemalta. Several fisher- men, she said, lost their moorings. Farrugia insisted that the edu- cation investment in the south should be carried out in areas al- ready developed or using existing buildings. "Don't be fooled by promises of a park because the park is already yours as it is. Don't be tricked by claims of abandoned land because the government and land own- ers are duty-bound to take care of your land." Farrugia claimed that more rub- ble was being dumped in the area to make it appear ugly and aban- doned. "We do want investment in the South because the area had long become the Cinderella of the is- land. However, this investment should be one that protects what we have, heal environmental wounds and protect the beauty of our land." Farrugia hit out at Labour MP Silvio Parnis – chair of the South Consultative Council that had come up with the idea of develop- ing three hotels in the area – after he urged people not to discourage the investment. Luciano Busuttil fires veiled warning In reaction to Farrugia's online outburst, Labour MP Luciano Busuttil indirectly warned his col- league to resign from the party. Farrugia – who has always can- didly expressed her views over different issues irrespective of the government's position – is facing criticism from many Labour sup- porters over her opposition to the development at Zonqor Point. "If I ever go ballistic in public for the umpteenth time against my party and its leader, who hap- pens to be the Prime Minister, I would seriously consider leaving that Parliamentary Group, out of respect for the people who elect- ed me, and my colleagues in that same group," Busuttil said on Fa- cebook. "Let us not forget that we are all elected because we run on a party ticket and not on our own behalf. I am just saying!" TIM DIACONO SEEKING alliances with civil so- ciety, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil yesterday lambasted the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for proposing the devel- opment of a foreign university on land at Zonqor Point that is out- side development zones. He met environmental NGOs yesterday when he expressed his "great disappointment" in MEPA's inability to protect the environ- ment. Busuttil questioned whether the 90,000 square metres of land to be regaled to the Sadeen Group – the Jordanian investors setting up the 'American University of Malta' – will be used for purely educational purposes. Busuttil claimed that the project "will not be a university and it is not American". He said there was an "element of deceit" about the deal, as Sadeen is a construction company with no experience in education. Flanked by MPs inside the Op- position's office in Parliament, Busuttil said the PN welcomed further investment in education but insisted that the American University of Malta should be built elsewhere without causing harm to the environment and ODZ areas. "If this university goes through, then the idea of ODZ will end once and for all. Once you start building on ODZ areas, the concept that outside development zones are protected ends," he said. Asked whether a future PN gov- ernment would rule out develop- ment in ODZ areas, Busuttil said that "by definition development is prohibited in ODZ land unless it is absolutely necessary, and the American University is not neces- sary." Busuttil urged civil society to unite and oppose "environmental destruction". The meeting included represent- atives from Flimkien Ghal Amb- jent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, the Ramblers' Association, and the Noise Abatement Society. It was notably also attended by rep- resentatives from both BirdLife Malta and the hunters' federation FKNK, only a month after the two were at each other's throat in the referendum campaign to abolish spring hunting. In comments at the end of the meeting, Busuttil recognised the irony in the growing opposi- tion to the project and said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has "managed to unite environmen- tal NGOs and hunters against his project". In a rallying call for the people who live in southern Malta, Bu- suttil said the Opposition was pre- pared to do "all that is necessary" to stop the "rape" of virgin land. Hunters from the FKNK appealed to the government to examine all possibilities for siting the Ameri- can University of Malta in another area to avoid losing "what little is left of the Maltese islands' natural and agricultural land". "The FKNK appeals to the gov- ernment, as well as to MEPA, to ensure that all necessary environ- mental impact assessments are carried out, such that the objec- tives of opportunity for educational development are not lost, however, without causing irreversible dam- age to our natural environment." The hunting federation also said that it is awaiting a meeting with the authorities to discuss the estab- lishment of a nature park, which is also part of the project. Marlene Farrugia says Labour is blindly in favour of moneyed class Busuttil rallies NGOs seeking to overturn Zonqor site decision Marlene Farrugia – again breaking ranks with Labour Simon Busuttil addressing NGOs Astrid Vella (above) and NGO members (below) yesterday met Simon Busuttil PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD