The PN’s reaction to the government’s decision against building a university on what is being termed as virgin land needs to be praised. However, the alternative sites proposed by the party show lack of vision and professional naiveté. According to the Malta Independent, “The PN said areas such as the Petroleum Division in Birzebbuga, the former Dowty factory in Marsa and St Luke’s Hospital all offer a better site.” I doubt whether the PN did its homework well when it came out with such suggestions.
Except for the Birzebbuga site, the other two sites leave much to be desired. The first one, the Dowty factory is in an industrial estate and I strongly believe, that a University should not be placed in an industrial estate, unless there is a holistic project for the transfer of an industrial site into a totally revamped complex. Worse was the proposal for the setting up of a University at St Luke’s Hospital. I will not bring the false argument that this government is bringing that Guardamangia is not in the South. It is part of the harbour conurbation. The reason why this project should be discarded is demographic. Malta has an ageing population. As a demographer, I can assure everyone that issues and problems related to old age are bound to increase. St Luke’s would have made an ideal home for the elderly, in particular for those who can no longer receive health care in their home. The PN’s proposal should be to transform this place into an old people’s home and should refrain from dismantling this building for other functions and activities.
As someone who lectures on the relationship between demography and urban growth, I find it strange thatthe PN did not take into considerationCottonera as an alternative for this university. In all probability, Government would not take heed of such an advice, but such a suggestion would have given an indication that this party is again startingto seriously care for this area. The Three Cities offer the right ambiance for the creation of a university town and Government has enough property, mostly abandoned, which can be used for such a project.
Another option would have been the area of Fort Ricasoli and its environs. I found it extremely strange that our Minister of Education discarded this option, saying, and I am here again referring to what had been reported on the Malta Independent, “that the site is far too small”.
On the contrary, Fort Ricasoli with its hinterland is bigger than what is being offered to these investors.It seems that the government policy towards this Fort is the same as the previous administration, which is to allow this place to crumble. Already parts of the bastions of this fortification have caved in. There are no real plans for its restoration. My hunch is that it is deliberately being left in this state, so that when it is beyond repair, the proposal will come to transform this area into a new concrete city in the south. It is only then, that this site becomes good for the building of a mega hotel. In other words, it will be another hideous Tigne Point. Tongue in cheek, it will balance the pictorial view of our harbour entrance! Malta can then start boasting to have two identical projectsat both ends of the entrance to its harbours.
The suggestion of at least two of these localities by the PN shows that the Nationalist Party still lacks a concrete vision for the south. My bet is that these policies are being suggested to Dr. Simon Busuttil by individuals who do not care for the environment or do not know the south or care two hoots for history. For sure, they are not versed in educational policies and the new strategies that this type of educationaldevelopment will have in relation to urban growth.
This story of a new University is going to prove to be a challenge to the government.For the first time, we have an Educational Minister who is involving himself or at least defending land speculation. Normally, land speculation and its defenceis reserved to other ministries and ministers. As can be judged from the press conference given on Wednesday, 13 May, Bartolowas joined, amongst other, by the Minister for the Environment, Leo Brincat,in a desperate attempt to justify the building of a big hotel along a pristine coast. This press conference came as a reaction to Busuttil’s press conference wherein he made the above proposals for an alternative location for this university. What these Labour gentlemen are not realizing is that the Maltese people are not stupid. What is being proposed by the Government is not an educational institution but a mega hotel along the coast in an ODZ area.