Shadow Minister for Gozo Chris Said reacted in Parliament this evening to the purchase of a Preti painting by Gozo Minister Anton Refalo, expressing his shock and stating that, with that amount of money  'so much more could have been done'.

It was revealed yesterday that Gozo minister Anton Refalo bought a Mattia Preti painting which cost approximately  €400,000 with money sourced from the budget of the ministry of Gozo.  

Dr Said questioned whether the Ministry of Finance had authorised the purchase, as well as the allocation of this money with reference to the budget, noting that in the budget, only €50,000 was allocated for the procurements of works of art. 

The PN MP, clearly frustrated, angrily expressed that the money could have been spent on more beneficial causes for Gozo, such as helping start-up companies, the upkeep of roads and maintaining historical sites, to name a few.

Dr Said mentioned other instances of misuse of money, namely the construction of stairs to the Gozo terminus, which he said would cost €3 million.