The “immediate rejection” of proposals for the new American university to be sited in Birżebbuġa proved the government did not really want to explore alternative locations, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil charged yesterday.
Addressing Nationalist Party supporters in Balzan, Dr Busuttil said it was manifestly not true that the government would consider alternative sites for the new university if viable suggestions were made.
He was referring to what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told The Sunday Times of Malta that he would look into any possible alternative sites if these were put forward.
The Opposition had made several suggestions, including the former petroleum division plant in Birżebbuġa, however, the government shot all these down last week.
Other proposals made by the PN included St Luke’s Hospital, in Pietà, which the government said was earmarked for the Bart’s Medical School project, and the former Dowty factory, in Mrieħel, but the government deemed this unsuitable because it was not in the south of the island.
Dr Muscat said the ex-petroleum division was not suitable because it would take two years to remove the old fuel tanks and Dr Busuttil said this showed how out of touch the government was.
There is no difference between the south and other parts of the island
True, one could not build a power station within two years, he said to applause, but why could fuel tanks not be dismantled in a couple of years?
Dr Busuttil accused the government of ignoring the environmental lobby, the concerns of residents and even one of its own MPs, referring to Labour backbencher Marlene Farrugia who has openly opposed the proposal for the American university campus to be built on virgin land. Turning to the government’s insistence that the project be developed in the south, Dr Busuttil said: “There is no difference between the south and other parts of the island.
“We are all Maltese and one end is only a 10-minute drive from the other end.”
He urged the government and Dr Muscat to reconsider the plan but not to ask William Mangion to search for the new site because he was still busy looking for garages for bands to rehearse in, he quipped.
Dr Busuttil said he would back the government but only if a proper site for the university was found.
If no alternative was found, the PN would act as “a shield” to defend the people and the country’s environment.
Earlier, Nationalist MP Mario Galea asked whether it was true that just over a month ago, during a wedding reception, a person who used to be close to Lorry Sant and was very close to the Labour Party, boasted that a major project was coming to Żonqor and that he would make a lot of money from it.
He also asked whether Dr Muscat had met the Żonqor landowners. Had he met them before the election? And what had he promised them?