Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela yesterday categorically excluded any intention of expropriating or acquiring Palazzo Verdelin, which houses the Valletta police station.
On the other hand, Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon, who is responsible for the Land Department, failed to reply to questions on whether he had discussed the expropriation of the imposing building in Archbishop Street with members of the Gaffarena family.
Last month, The Sunday Times of Malta reported that Marco Gaffarena was in negotiations with the owners of Palazzo Verdelin to buy their property for €3.5 million to sell it to the government at a profit.
One of the owners said Mr Gaffarena had contacted them with an offer telling them that the government would eventually acquire the building.
Talks between Mr Gaffarena and the owners were abruptly halted in the wake of reports by this newspaper last May about deals between the government and Mr Gaffarena over another building in Old Mint Street.
Asked yesterday whether the Home Affairs Ministry ever intended to expropriate or buy Palazzo Verdelin, Mr Abela, responsible for the police force, said it did not. “I have already replied in Parliament and categorically excluded buying this property,” he said. Pressed on whether there had been any talks or he was given advice on whether to expropriate or buy the building, the minister replied: “No, never.”
Questions sent to Michael Falzon still unanswered
Questions sent three weeks ago to Dr Falzon on the same issue remain unanswered despite several reminders. He was asked to state whether the Land Department, under his watch, was ever involved in discussions over the possible expropriation or acquisition of Palazzo Verdelin and on whether he had ever discussed this issue with Mr Gaffarena.
So far, the government has not reacted to the report on The Sunday Times about Palazzo Verdelin. However, Dr Falzon did say during a press conference that the report was being investigated by the same inquiry appointed to look into the deals between the Land Department and Mr Gaffarena on the Old Mint Street property.
Dr Falzon always denied any personal involvement in the Old Mint Street deal, in which the government paid Mr Gaffarena €1.65 million in land and cash for half ownership of the property that was bought for a fraction of the price just weeks earlier. He admitted that he had discussed the deal with Mr Gaffarena and that he had signed the approval.