Busuttil says he will renegotiate government-AUM Zonqor deal

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday morning committed himself to re-negotiating the government deal that granted a swathe of Outside Development Land at Zonqor Point to a private Jordanian developer to build part of the American University of Malta (AUM) campus, should he be elected Prime Minister. The development and the granting of ODZ land had been met with heavy criticism, even after the government announced it would make a ‘compromise’ and reduce the portion of land taken up, which had effectively split the campus into two sites – part on Zonqor Point and the other on the dilapidated Senglea side of Dock 1. The contentious deal, which had led to widespread criticism and protests, had been approved by Parliament in December 2015. Dr Busuttil’s statement came during a press conference held yesterday morning that announced the Nationalist Party’s environmental policy document, which contains 16 key focus areas and 171 proposals. In the document, the PN pledged to address the troubling issue of over development and vacant properties, the exclusion of land-reclamation purely for the sake of speculative purposes and the strengthening of solar rights. It also deals with a common skyline policy. In the document, the PN out- lines how the environment is a reflection of “our values”. Dr Busuttil pledged to bring to an end the tension between economic progress and environmental protection. He also called for the protection of the environment to be enshrined in the Constitution. He slammed the current Environmental and Resources Authority, stressing the need for it to be a credible and formidable force. Dr Busuttil concluded by identifying the PN’s environmental policy as part of the internal effort to reinvent itself.

Front Harsien ODZ statement

Front Harsien ODZ, an environmental NGO created in response to the ODZ Zonqor point land grab announcement issued a statement saying it “welcomed Dr Simon Busuttil's statement to renegotiate AUM Zonqor deal should he become Prime Minister. “All political parties, save the PL, are against the Zonqor development. What is the Prime Minister waiting for to stop the destruction of Zonqor? “Front Harsien ODZ will be commenting on the entire PN environmental document next week.”

FAA statement

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar also welcomed the PN’s proposals in favour of environment and heritage launched in its environment policy docu- ment. The entrenchment of environmental rights for citizens in the Constitution is an essential first step, the FAA said. The eNGO added, “Equally urgent is the repealing of the very damaging Design Guidelines 2015 which allow two more storeys in Malta’s towns and villages. FAA calls for the reinstatement of ethics, which would preclude working architects from places on the PA's Boards which is leading to abuse. “FAA supports the proposed fiscal incentives for the restoration of heritage properties, but calls on the Planning Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to immediately block the present wave of destruction of heritage homes, or there will be nothing left to preserve. The Public Domain Act has been ratified; what is holding the government back from stepping in to save unique sites that are deteriorating fast? FAA calls for training courses in restoration and sustainable construction to give contractors who wish to switch to these fields a professional formation. The eNGO also endorses the setting up of Green Wardens. “FAA welcomes the fact that finally one of the two main parties has realised that its role is to protect the health and quality of life of people over all of Malta and Gozo, rather than to promote the interests of a handful of developers. “Now let's see it happen!”