Adds comments by Dr Karol Aquilina

The government has agreed with a Siggiewi Council request not to renew the lease of the locality's PL club when it expires in June next year. The premises, in St Nicholas Square, will instead be transferred to the council for use as a day centre for the elderly and offices for the council.

Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi, who is responsible for public property, said the decision was motivated by the public interest. The Labour Party has been informed of the decision.

The PN-controlled council voted along party lines last week to recommend to the government that the lease should not be renewed.

The building, once a residence of Mabel Strickland, was bought by the government in the 1960s and used as a primary school and civic centre. It was rented to the Labour Party in 1981. It is estimated to have a value in excess of €1.1 million.

Siggiewi deputy mayor Karol Aquilina in a statement this afternoon welcomed the government's decision and criticised the Labour Party for not having, on its own accord, offered to vacate the government-owned property at the end of its lease so that it could be used by the people of Siggiewi. Dr Muscat and his party had tried to perpetuate a 28-year-old scandal, Dr Aquilina said.

(More details in The Sunday Times)

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090802/local/labour-club-to-be-handed-over-to-siggiewi-council