Lands Minister Silvio Schembri did not obtain the unanimous parliamentary approval for a resolution that would give the owners of the Fortina Hotel a 65-year temporary emphyteusis on an illegal extension to their hotel lido and an 18,000 square metre sea to be turned into a yacht marina.
Opposition members of the National Audit Office Accounts Committee voted against Schembri’s resolution, labelling the vote a clear sign that, unlike the government, the opposition does not condone an attitude where works are carried out and completed before Parliament’s assent.
“It is not on that you come here, and present Parliament with a resolution to give anyone public land when you know the project has already been completed, without a legal title, and operating as a full-blown business,” MP Darren Carabott told a vividly frustrated Lands Minister.
Presenting the minister with pictures of the completed lido and restaurant in full swing, Carabott told Schembri such arrogance was disrespectful to Parliament and that the Opposition would not dance to the government’s tune.
Admitting that the owners of Fortina had already completed the work without first obtaining parliamentary consent as required, Schembri tried to justify Fortina’s actions by referring to a €70,000 fine for the illegalities.
Arguing that “this will save them a summer of business”, the minister insisted that he did not know the lido was already fully operational.
“I wasn’t invited to the opening,” the minister said sarcastically.
Called to testify before the Committee, Lands Authority CEO Robert Vella confirmed that Fortina had carried out the development without a title and illegally occupied public land.
He also admitted that the Lands Authority, which falls under Schembri’s remit, had not carried out any enforcement while work was underway and that, according to him, his Authority has no power to stop any such illegal work.
“The only option we had was to take them to court. Once we knew that a parliamentary resolution was to be presented, we did not take any action,” Vella said.
The resolution, now blocked by the Opposition, will have to be re-presented to the plenary session, where a simple majority will be enough to approve it.
In addition to Schembri, Ministers Chris Fearne and Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi voted in favour of the resolution.
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Maybe I should build a villa on the minsters land and toss him a few Euros as a fine. Another imbecile unfit for purpose
They will all have their boat space reserved .
This is not just arrogance but criminal – aiding and abetting in the misappropriation of public land.
The Minister has the cheek to justify it for the economic interests of the misappropriator.
The minister has acted like a pimp for political prostitution.
Can anyone be convinced that no Petrus currency or hard stone were considered to safeguard reciprocal economic well-being?
Simply arrogant, full-of-himself, incompetent Minister who has unfortunately found ferment soil to flourish la hemm il-Labour fil-Gvern!
Looks like Chris Fearne thinks this is another “real deal,” because he voted for it.
Maybe after he realises that the public is livid about this shambolic deal he might think otherwise.
Anyone who voted in favour of this is a traitor to our country and will forever be remembered so. And all this for what…30 pieces of silver. All ministers, now is the time to speak up. Take the land back
It is more important to save a ‘business summer’ by condoning illegalities than to safeguard the common good by condemning them.
That, in three short words, is termed ‘rule of law’ isn’t it!
“fejn qlejna bajda, naqlu tnejn”….this group was already gifted with the parliament’s approval to change the consession of their seafront hotel into office space at an immense gain of 60?? following the sale of the same property to a big gaming company. So effectively, if parliament bent itself once, bending itself the second time and letting its pants down, shouldnt be that much of a problem.
More than that!
Re your question: I would safely answer ‘NO ONE’
The power of brown envelopes continues to reign supreme.
The price of being Business Friendly, the PL stole the business elite from the PN at the cost of losing thousands of supporters.
Under this government and its inept, criminal ministers who are obviously above the law, it is ‘business by hook or by crook’.
“There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.” It was then, Daphne, it is now, and will continue to be, as long as this criminal gang is permitted to rule the roost!
Two weights two measures. As they say money talks and money walks. It s all about friends of friends of friends . No wonder 9 2 percent outline Maltese politicians as corrupt . This Minister can only say he did not know the law . Minister s before his time said it abd we t scott free .