Land expropriated by the government for social housing 20 years ago was passed on to the original owners 48 hours before the last election in a clear case of favouritism, Social Policy Minister Michael Farrugia said this morning. 

The land, he said, at tal-Fiddien in-Naxxar, became government property in 1996 but then Minister Chris Said gave in to pressure so as not to lose votes just before the election.

Dr Farrugia asked why had Dr Said reached the deal just before the election, whether Simon Busuttil, as deputy leader, had known about the case and why had government policy been changed with a minister’s signature.

He also asked who gave the order for the contract to be changed and what did Dr Busuttil have to say about this clear case of political favouritsm.

The press conference was also addressed by Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis.

PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT ACTED IN LINE WITH POLICY

In a reply, the Nationalist Party said the Labour Party was extending its attacks to Dr Said.

What the Labour Party was referring to, it said, was part of a policy that was adopted in the past legislature, which was to do justice with individuals or families whose land was expropriated or requisitioned in previous years.

The government had decided that when such land was not used for years, it would be returned to its owners.

In fact, this was land taken by the government from the private sector and not government land given to the private sector.

Large tracts of land had been returned in the previous administration, especially by Transport Malta.

The Housing Authority had also decided not to build any more units but to rent from the private sector.

Apart from making justice with the owners, the previous government had also removed the risk of being made to pay thousands in court damages.