Firm demands damages after crafts village change of plans

One of the companies at the Ta' Qali crafts village yesterday held the government liable in damages following a decision not to renovate the area.

JCR Ltd filed a judicial protest against the Prime Minister, the finance ministry, Malta Enterprise and the Commissioner of Land.

The company said it had entered into an agreement with the government to purchase a property at the Ta' Qali crafts village. The promise of sale agreement stipulated that the crafts village would be reconstructed and that the parties were aware that some inconvenience would be caused.

However, despite previous declarations by the Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment, Tonio Fenech that the reconstruction of the crafts village was imminent, the Prime Minister eventually announced that no funds were forthcoming for the project and that the reconstruction would not take place. The government said that, instead, a crafts village would be built in Cospicua.

JCR Ltd claimed it suffered damages as a result of this change of heart by the authorities and called upon the authorities to make good such damages.

Lawyers Gavin Gulia and Luciano Busuttil signed the protest.