Developers demand reform at ‘discriminatory’ Lands Department

The Malta Developers Association has appealed to the government to conduct a thorough reform of the Lands Department in a bid that the government property department can carry out its obligations to give a good service to all citizens.

The MDA’s statement comes in the wake of the controversy over the State’s acquisition of Marco Gaffarena’s part-owership of a property in Old Mint Street, Valletta for €1.65 million.

“While it awaits government’s internal inquiry and the Auditor General’s investigation to throw light on the circumstances of the case, the MDA welcomes with satisfaction the Prime Minister’s declaration that, if something wrong emerges from the investigations, what has occurred will be taken back and all the necessary decisions will be taken to remedy the situation,” the MDA said.

But the association said it could not ignore the discriminatory way in which the Lands Department had treated the case to the detriment of numerous citizens whose land has been expropriated by government or requested to redeem their ground rent.

“These have been waiting for long years under numerous administrations to be granted their rights. This must be considered also in the light of the huge difficulties the ordinary citizen faces when he tries to find government land to exchange with his property, which has been expropriated.”