Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning said that a large part of the new university must happen in Marsascala, while the Gozo cruise terminal project is still in the adjudication process.
Asked by journalists, Dr Muscat said that no final decision has as yet been taken on the new university proposed by Jordanian investors.
He did not give the exact number of proposals that have been made. He said he hopes to find a compromise that would satisfy everyone.
He did mention that quite a few proposals have come in, in terms of numbers, however the locations all tend to be the same. "We are examining them and we have certain solutions in mind. We are also discussing with investors and I believe a good solution can be found that while a large part of the project would remain in Marsascala while using the least amount of ODZ land. He again said that the area was going to be a dump and that had been previously earmarked for other projects by the previous government.
There are people proposing certain forts. "This is something that can look good and is a good idea. But then others realise that to use a fort one would need the appropriate infrastructure, roads etc. To run a road through the countryside a pathway would not be big enough. You need a certain amount of infrastructure for health and safety reasons, such as space for an ambulance to pass, a fire engine".
Over the past weeks there has been a growing opposition to the use of pristine land in Zonqor Point for developing a university, but the government has so far held its ground.
With regard to the development of a cruise liner terminal and luxury apartments in Qala, the Prime Minister said that the project has not yet been adjudicated.
Discussions are still ongoing on the viability of the project, he said, after Chapman Taylor architects revealed on their website that they had will be building the terminal and complex.
He then told journalists that he does not understand what all the fuss is about, as it was well known that an expression of interest had been released by government and that a terminal was planned for Gozo.
He explained that after the Privatisation Unit concludes the deal, government will have to either approve or deny the project, adding that government does not have any control over the designs presented by the company.
He stressed that he himself has yet to see the designs however looks positively at the proposal which would replace a disused quarry, describing the site in its current state as an 'eyesore'
The government was signing an agreement with Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University.
The agreement will see Cambridge English assess the use of English in Malta and how it is taught. It will also help train teachers.
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that “Last year 77,000 people came to Malta to learn English. We compete with the best in the world. We want to enhance Malta’s role as an educational hub”.
A Benchmark study will run to assess the English Language skills of Maltese pupils and Maltese teachers will receive help to achieve better standards.
Photos by Jonathan Borg