Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/553115
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST 2015 News 3 Muscat confirms part of 'American University' will be built at Zonqor Stolen Maltese passport linked to Venezuelan man questioned about murder by Costa Rica TIM DIACONO PART of the controversially sit- ed 'American University of Mal- ta' project will "undoubtedly" be located at Zonqor Point, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has con- firmed. Speaking during a meeting with MaltaToday journalists, Muscat admitted that the government could have been "more sensitive" in the siting process for the pri- vate university. "However, we cannot now be absolutist and decide not to build it anywhere," Muscat said. "I'm ready to take decisions and to pay for them at the voting booth. I might reap the fruit and I might lose points." The government has commis- sioned a social impact assess- ment on the possibility of siting part of the university campus at Cottonera. When asked about this plan, Muscat kept his cards close to his chest, simply saying that the government will "mini- mize the impact" of the campus buildings and keep the project's "feasibility" in mind. "Had we chosen to site the uni- versity at Fort Ricasoli, we'd have had to relocate the tank-cleaning farm from there," the Prime Min- ister argued. "Had we relocated it to Birzebbuga, we would have had to build it outside develop- ment zones. Therefore, instead of using up ODZ land to build an educational institution, we'd have ended up using it to relo- cate a tank-cleaning farm." The government's decision to build part of the university at pristine Zonqor is not likely to go down well with environmen- tal groups. Front Harsien ODZ spokesperson Michael Briguglio recently warned that any devel- opment of Zonqor would be "ab- solutist". Around 3,000 people protested in June against the proposed Zon- qor development, in what was widely viewed as Malta's largest- ever environmental protest. During the meeting, Muscat repeatedly argued that the Na- tionalist Party is being given "the benefit of the doubt" on its en- vironmental credentials, despite having reduced ODZ boundaries when in government. On the contrary, he said that the AUM project was the only ODZ controversy that Labour has faced in over two years of government. MIRIAM DALLI A Venezuelan man questioned by Costa Rican police over murder is believed to have been in posses- sion of a stolen Maltese passport, leading newspapers to describe him as "a naturalised Maltese". The man in question was identi- fied as Sinesterra Sánchez, the last man to be seen in the company of the victim. Sinesterra Sánchez and Costa Rican Montano Abra- ham were subsequently arrested in connection with the murder. MaltaToday has since learnt that an investigation by Interpol is currently underway to establish how the passport of a Maltese citizen ended up in the hands of the Venezuelan man. The passport had been reported stolen to the police by the origi- nal passport holder. It is under- stood that Venezuelan police investigating the case traced the number on the passport and dis- covered that the passport had in fact been stolen. "Although the data page was changed, the passport number corresponded with the stolen passport," informed sources told MaltaToday. The probability is that the pass- port was sold on the black mar- ket. Contacted by MaltaToday, IIP CEO Jonathan Cardona also con- firmed that no adults going by the name, or surname, of Sanchez had been naturalised or had ap- plied for Maltese citizenship un- der the Individual Investor Pro- gramme. Costa Rican newspapers report that a Colombian man was shot dead at a motel after possibly be- ing lured there by two women. The Costa Rican and the Ven- ezuelan formed part of the group. Salazar Arroyo was shot dead by a hitman just as the group had ar- rived at the motel. Sánchez and Abraham were held by the po- lice after giving conflicting state- ments. Arroyo was shot dead by a hit- man who walked straight up to him, took aim and fired. The hitman allegedly fled away in a Toyota Yaris. Paragliders caught in the eye of the storm TWO paragliders had the fright of their lives yesterday as a sum- mer storm tore through the rope linking their parachute to a speedboat. Terrified bathers at Ghadira screamed as they watched the parachute land on the roof of a boathouse. Luckily, the two pa- ragliders – a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman – suffered only minor injuries. After days of scorching sun- shine, a thunderstorm struck Malta yesterday morning. It brought some relief from the op- pressive warmth. A waterspout was spotted over Grand Harbour, while heavy rain was reported across the island. A twister was reported over Rabat. August downpours, the 'ghara- jjex ta' Santa Marija', are fairly common in Malta at this time of the year and the Met Office has forecast further showers next week. But the storm yesterday was more violent than is the norm. The Met Office explained that the storm was formed after heavy weather was moving towards the east of Malta. Due to the warm sea temperatures hitting 29 de- grees Celsius, thundery clouds were formed and expanded rap- idly over the country. Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future ESF 3.234 LEAP PROJECT ESF 3.234 LEAP PROJECT ESF 3.234 LEAP PROJECT FINAL FULL DAY CONFERENCE FINAL FULL DAY CONFERENCE FINAL FULL DAY CONFERENCE Wednesday 9 Wednesday 9 Wednesday 9 th th th September 2015 September 2015 September 2015 All project beneficiaries, host organisations, All project beneficiaries, host organisations, All project beneficiaries, host organisations, network representatives within the LEAP regions network representatives within the LEAP regions network representatives within the LEAP regions and interested stakeholders are invited to join us for this conference and interested stakeholders are invited to join us for this conference and interested stakeholders are invited to join us for this conference marking the success of the project and promoting new ventures. marking the success of the project and promoting new ventures. marking the success of the project and promoting new ventures. Interested individuals are to contact Mr Michael Pulis via email on Interested individuals are to contact Mr Michael Pulis via email on Interested individuals are to contact Mr Michael Pulis via email on michael.pulis@gov.mt michael.pulis@gov.mt michael.pulis@gov.mt or by phone (office hours) on 25903465 / 25903466 or by phone (office hours) on 25903465 / 25903466 or by phone (office hours) on 25903465 / 25903466 Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis Part of the American University of Malta may be located in the Cottonera (pictured)