The government should publish its agreement with Sadeen Group concerning the American University of Malta before the summer parliamentary recess to ensure a “transparent and open debate”, according to the Front Ħarsien ODZ.

Speaking outside Parliament yesterday morning, Front spokesman James Debono said that if the agreement were not published, it would be clear that the government intended to proceed with the development process on ODZ land in Żonqor in summer, thus avoiding parliamentary scrutiny.

“The agreement is relevant to the final location of the project, so much so that the Mepa CEO has testified that he referred to the agreement in discussions he had with OPM. Meanwhile, the public remain in limbo.”

Mr Debono said that any discussion on the university project was “useless” while the full details of the agreement were not public.

“To date, we have only been told that the government will publish it when it deems fit to do so. This only raises suspicion that agreements are being made behind the public’s back.”

Agreements are being made behind the public’s back

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement, during a consultation meeting on Thursday, that part of the project will be sited in Marsascala and part of it elsewhere in the south, Mr Debono reiterated the group’s position that there could be no compromise if any development took place at Żonqor.

“If the Prime Minister is referring to some other area, within development zones, at Marsascala, we are of course ready to look at it positively.

“But if the government pushes on hard-headedly with the project at Żonqor, an area already established as a nature park, obviously we cannot accept. We consider that not just a lack of compromise, but an absolutist attitude.”

He added that the group had not received any invitations from the government to meet following the environmental protest on June 20.