Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia insists he never mentioned Labour when he said the Gaffarena family had been promised a permit to regularise their illegal petrol station in Qormi before the last election.

Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

In March 2014, the Times of Malta had quoted Dr Farrugia, then parliamentary secretary responsible for Mepa, saying he defended a change in policy through which the Gaffarenas’ illegally-built petrol station could start operations.

Arguing that “people should be given the opportunity to regularise their position”, he had told this newspaper the Gaffarenas “were promised a permit before the elections”.

Following an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta, in which Prime Minster Joseph Muscat said Labour had never promised anything to the Gaffarena family, PN leader Simon Busuttil accused Dr Muscat of telling “a blatant lie”. Dr Busuttil quoted what Dr Farrugia had told this newspaper last year.

When contacted, Dr Farrugia confirmed his statement but said he had never mentioned Labour.

“Dr Farrugia never referred to promises made by the Labour Party. It is now coming out publicly that the petrol station was discussed with a number of prominent persons within the Nationalist Party prior to March 2013. This confirms that Dr Farrugia was right in what he said,” a ministry spokeswoman said.

Dr Farrugia never promised Mr Gaffarena anything prior to the election or after the Labour Party was elected to government in March 2013

“Dr Farrugia never promised Mr [Joe] Gaffarena anything prior to the election or after the Labour Party was elected to government in March 2013. Dr Farrugia never met the Gaffarena family before the election or when he was parliamentary secretary with responsibilities for land and Mepa,” she said.

Located in the outskirts of Qormi, J. Gaffarena Service Station was sealed off by Mepa in 2008 when the developer went beyond the approved planning permission. After defying an enforcement order and opening for business, Mepa officials returned to the site in September 2009, sealing off its entrance and again closing down the petrol station.

Following Labour’s return to power, the petrol station resumed operations after Mepa changed its rules and issued the petrol station with a temporary three-year permit to operate the parts that had been built according to the original development permit.