Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/926403
maltatoday SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 News 9 but the mere fact that the com- pany that came with so much promise wants to move out after just 22 months has left a sour taste that can hurt the Labour government. MaltaToday had reported that VGH faced problems to raise the necessary finance, which left many wondering whether shareholder money was ever going to be used, at least to get the project up and running. The project has stalled and although this is not entirely VGH's fault, the prospective sale to Steward Healthcare is an indi- cation that not all was well. With flak coming its way from the medical profession over the decision to part-privatise public healthcare, the government will want to ensure the hospitals deal does deliver for the public. Pulling the plug completely does not appear a viable option at this stage, especially when Steward Healthcare runs 36 hospitals in the US, giving it better credentials than the unknown VGH. Government may yet save its blushes if the American company steps in and lives up to the con- tractual obligations. But if the hospitals project has the potential to get back on track, the situation is significantly differ- ent at the Bormla campus of AUM. Jordanian investor Hani Saleh, through his company Sadeen Edu- cational Investments, was granted a 99-year lease on land in Bormla's Dock 1 and Zonqor Point in Mar- saskala, to build two university cam- puses. The privately-funded project would see the creation of a new uni- versity catering for 4,000 students. The government had champi- oned the investment as a boost to the south of the island, pitting the 'cleaner' university campuses against the 'dirty' projects of the past that included a recycling facil- ity in Marsaskala. This argument carries a lot of currency in the south, which has been plagued by heavy industries and power sta- tions. The promise alone of foreign students in the south and medical tourists in Gozo did have an initial impact on surrounding communi- ties. For starters, the housing market reacted to the developments – positively for landlords and home owners and negatively for tenants. The opening of a top real estate agency along Bormla's seafront signalled a revival in the area as a result of the AUM project, even though it was still on paper. But the university with no track record has found it hard to attract students. At the start of the year, AUM even ditched its academic staff as a result of the low student intake. It appears the financials are not making sense for a project that had set itself a target of 300 students for the first academic year. With just 23 enrolled students that dropped to 15, it's not ex- actly a missed target but a big flop, which is raising serious question marks on AUM's viability. Economic expansion may, for the time being, not require the hospitals and AUM projects. There is enough going on to con- tinue generating above-average growth for the foreseeable future. But these two flagship projects were not only about construc- tion but the creation of two niche markets that would have served the economy long after the cur- rent construction boom is over. Labour's opening to the world in search of foreign investment was a political move that cut loose the ideological shackles that may have impeded previous Nationalist administrations from opening their arms to investors far and wide. The investment in Enemalta by China's Shanghai Electric has enabled the electricity corpora- tion to return to black despite the scepticism on the model adopted by the government. But whereas the reforms in the energy sector, with all the criti- cism levelled at the gas power project, have delivered visible results that directly benefitted consumers – lower utility tariffs – not the same can be said of the hospitals and AUM deals. The latter two appear to be sinking ships and fixing them has to be a priority, even if it means terminating the deals or finding alternative investors with a better track record. in water The two niche markets would have served the economy long after the current construction boom is over More than 1,000 new PN members since Adrian Delia became leader PAUL COCKS THE Nationalist Party has seen a significant surge in the number of young people joining the party since the election of Adrian Delia as leader, MaltaToday has learned. 1,033 new memberships have been registered since the 16 Sep- tember election and, in a break from tradition, 25% of them are between 16 and 30 years old. Of the remainder, another 25% are aged between 31 and 45, 29% between 46 and 60 years, and 21% are over 61 years old. In another first, the number of women who signed up to join the PN surpassed the men, with 54% to 46%. 128 of the new members live in the eighth district – Balzan, Birkirkara, Fleur-de-Lys, Swatar, Iklin and Lija – while 127 live in the first district – Valletta, Flori- ana, Hamrun, Marsa, Pieta', Gwar- damangia and Santa Venera. All 13 districts were represented in the recent membership take-up; the 13th, third and fifth districts registered the least number of new memberships, with 31, 47 and 55 respectively. 93 new members live in Birkirka- ra, followed by 51 from Mosta. Significantly, Sliema registered the third-highest number of new members – 45 – at a time when the PN's popularity in the locality is said to be on the decline. POST OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Clerk of the House of Representatives invites applications for the post of Finance and Administration Manager. Details concerning the conditions, duties, eligibility requirements, selection and submission of applications can be found in the call for applications which may be downloaded from the website of the Parliament of Malta at the following address www.parlament.mt or collected from the Finance and Administration Section, House of Representatives, Freedom Square, Valletta VLT 1010. Applications, together with the relative documentation, will be received by the House of Representatives by not later than noon (CET), Friday, 19 January 2018, or submitted electronically on dcs.parlament@parlament.mt. In a first for the PN, the number of young people joining the party in the wake of Adrian Delia's election as leader is on the increase