Labour MP Silvio Parnis, chairman of the Consultative Council for the South, is in favour of the controversial American University of Malta project and believes nothing should be done to discourage the Jordanian investor.

“Let’s make sure the project really materialises because it will be a game changer for the south. It’s not fair that we discourage him [the investor] by saying he has to restore this fort and the other. It’s already enough that he decided to come to Malta, so let’s make sure he’s not discouraged,” he said. 

Asked for the council’s stand on the project, Mr Parnis said the issue was only discussed after the public announcement was made.  However his  personal position was totally in favour of the Prime Minister’s plan because it would boost the economy of the south.

Mr Parnis said he would prefer if the project was built on an alternative site. But he would still support the project even if it was built on agricultural land.

“At the end of the day, we built so many structures on ODZ, such as the hospital and the power station. Why are we making such a fuss on this educational project, which will change the south. This project will be a game changer for the south and so many jobs will be created. It will change the whole mentality of our people in that area and create so much wealth,” he said. 

Asked whether he had been privy to any economic impact assessment on the project, Mr Parnis admitted he had not.

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