Malta Developers Association President Sandro Chetcuti and construction magnate Charles Polidano tried to buy a plot of land in Zonqor some eight years ago but insist their plans have nothing to do with the American University Project.

The deal, hatched some eight years ago, has not materialised yet because of inheritance issues and, even if it is not completely off the cards, the chances of the sale going through are somewhat slim, they say.

This paper contacted Mr Chetcuti and Mr Polidano after Labour MP Marlene Farrugia published on Facebook an anonymous letter she received, naming them as the possible owners of a particular plot of land in Zonqor which has curiously been left out of the area earmarked for the American University Project. The letter, which was also sent to The Malta Independent, refers to a plot of garigue land in Triq l-Ghaguza in Zonqor. Part of the plot was included in the development zone in the 2006 rationalisation scheme. Recent maps showed that the proposed AUM footprint circled around this plot and the one adjacent to it, raising serious questions as to the ownership. The Malta Independent had also been told by six different sources that in 2007 Mr Chetcuti was seen taking measurements in one of the plots.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Chetcuti confirmed that he and Mr Polidano, along with some other businessmen, had tried to acquire the land some eight years ago but said the deal has not yet materialized, meaning that the land still belongs to two families who inherited it.

“Yes I had an agreement there but there were problems. The plot you are referring to was included in the development zone in the 2006 rationalisation scheme. The owners approached me to see if I was interested in acquiring it, which I was. However many problems cropped up, including the fact that some of the heirs were unknown.”

(Sandro Chetcuti)

Plot has nothing to do with AUM – Chetcuti

Asked if the negotiations were still open and if he still wished to acquire the plot, Mr Chetcuti said: “Should you as a journalist ask me, as the President of the Malta Developers Union, what my personal business is?” We replied that yes, we had to ask since the land in question touches with the AUM footprint. “But that is not my land,” Mr Chetcuti insisted. “It does not belong to me because the deal did not go through. I did not buy it and I swear on my children’s lives that it has nothing to do with the university project.”

Mr Chetcuti said he had been approached by the owners at a time when he did “far more business” than he has time for today but a lot of problems cropped up. “I don’t know at this stage how possible it would be for someone to buy it. I think it is farfetched to say that a contract could be signed for its sale.”

The MDA President insisted that he did not see the relevance of our questions. When told that we were asking him questions because of the plot’s close proximity to the AUM and the fact that the University footprint had circled right around it, Mr Chetcuti said he had never seen the university footprint plans. As MDA President he has called on the government to try and find an alternative site to the one proposed in Zonqor.

(Charles Polidano)

Expropriation of ODZ land is cheaper

Mr Chetcuti then said there might be an explanation why the government circled the property in question when proposing the university site. “The plot we tried to acquire is within the development zone. If the government expropriates ODZ land it would have to pay less because land that cannot be developed has a lower value. On the other hand it would have to pay a much higher price for expropriating land with development potential. I do not think anyone owning land in the development zone would want to sell it to the government and, likewise, I do not think the government would want to buy land with a high price tag. That is probably the reason why it opted for ODZ land,” he said 

‘We do not own those plots of land’

“I can assure you that Mr Polidano and I have nothing to do with the university project. We do not own lands like those who bought plots of land before 1987 and, in some cases had already tried to develop them.”

The MDA President again argued that he did not think it fair for us to write a story on the subject of the land he tried to acquire “way back, before the university plans were even conceived.” On our part we explained that, since the Labour MP had published the anonymous letter mentioning him and Mr Polidano, we had contacted them both for their side of the story.

(The plot Sandro Chetcuti and Charles Polidano tried to buy is marked with an X. The red line above it delineates the southern border of the proposed university site. The fact that it circled around the plot in question has raised questions. The part shaded in red denotes shows that part included in the 2006 rationalisation scheme.)

Mr Chetcuti, who repeatedly stated that he did not want his words to be twisted, said the land Dr Farrugia was pointing to did not belong to him. “It belongs to two families. Until this very day they hold title and possession on the land. The plot in question is not ODZ. Yes, Mr Polidano and I, along with some other people were interested in acquiring it some years back but nothing has materialised yet because of the difficulties that cropped up.”

When pressed to say if he was still interested in acquiring the plot, Mr Chetcuti said he could not exclude that the owners could one day approach him and tell him that these problems had been sorted. “I cannot bind myself not to buy the land if that happens. I have a right to do so.I can assure you that this has nothing to do with the university project. If you catch me lying then you can make a whole show out of me.”

Polidano wanted the land years ago

When contacted, Mr Polidano’s lawyer Jean Paul Sammut, also confirmed that the construction magnate had tried to acquire the land with Mr Chetcuti some years back. He also cited the problems that had arisen but did not exclude that the deal could someday go through. “Everything is possible but obviously, since such a large project is now being developed adjacent to the property I expect that the price has gone up.” Dr Sammut denied that Mr Polidano owned any other land in Zonqor Point.