Parliament yesterday approved the transfer of land to SmartCity (Malta) Ltd, after the opposition spokesman for Parliamentary, Financial and Economic Affairs Charles Mangion said that “the opposition will vote with the government, but will retain the reservations already stated”.

Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea opened the session with a grandiose speech, claiming that SmartCity will bring about a fourfold transformation of the Maltese nation on the human, societal, economic and environmental levels. Putting Malta’s calling as going beyond establishing itself as a financial centre in the middle of the Euro-Mediterranean region, Dr Galea said that we have a unique mix of history, culture, heritage, and temperament that we must tap wisely.

“More than a simple transfer of land,” said Dr Galea, “SmartCity will be the ‘gene’ that will enable us to transform and regenerate ourselves, raising the bar on the quality of our economy, our society, our mentality, and on the spirit of the whole nation.” SmartCity will be but the foundation stone of the project of the century – that of making Malta a centre of excellence in everything – a “Smart Malta”.

The project will not create a rich enclave in the south, but rather will “act as a gravitational force, pulling up the people of Cottonera,” said the minister. Seemingly recalling the recent push to turn us all into brand managers, Dr Galea said that “the government will make every man and woman a shareholder in this project, for the benefit of themselves and their families’ benefit, for the good of their country, and for the benefit of the Euro-Mediterranean population.”

Addressing the need to supply qualified manpower, Minister Galea said that 750 students are currently enrolled in ICT-specific or related courses, at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Dr Charles Mangion gained possession and said that one could not help but agree with the noble aims that have inspired the Maltese SmartCity.

However, after all the political niceties are said and done, what remains is the contract, and it is the conditions included therein that will bind together the project operator, the government, and posterity.

On the issue of the 5,600 jobs, Dr Mangion reiterated the opposition’s concern as to whether these will be new jobs or whether this figure will include staff transferring from other companies in Malta.

While allowing for the need for such migration, Dr Mangion said the emphasis should be on new jobs for Maltese workers. The spokesman also queried a clause in the contract that seemed to bind the government to issue permits to foreign workers, and said that Maltese young people are ill-prepared for ICT jobs, with 42 per cent of secondary school students finishing education while still practically illiterate.

Dr Mangion also questioned a clause that allows the investor to technically transfer undeveloped land the day after the contract date, and suggested that an amendment be introduced, requiring the developer to spend at least half of the promised investment first.

The Prime Minister claimed that the vote is an historic moment for the country, and accused Labour of “losing sight of the bigger picture”.

Replying to the amendments tabled by Dr Brincat and Dr Mangion, Minister for Investment, Infrastructure and Information Technology Austin Gatt clarified that the posts made available will not be for Maltese workers but for EU citizens, although investors will prefer to employ locals due to lower costs. Moreover, he said he cannot force Tecom Investments to count only 5,600 new jobs, for the only way to stop companies migrating from other parts of Malta is by picking on particular individuals and discriminating against them. Work permits for extra-EU nationals will also be issued if the demand for workers is not met locally or within the EU. Also, government cannot specify the nature of ICT jobs created, due to a difficulty in defining such jobs. Instead, the government opted to specify ICT office space.

Dr Gatt drew his speech to a close by saying that what matters is not the Lm300 million investment in stone, but that SmartCity heralds in the “new economy”.

The amendments proposed by the opposition were not approved, whereas the motion for the transfer of land was passed nemine contradicente.