In the “misinformation campaign” that the Labour media are promoting about the compensation to Minister Ninu Zammit for expropriation, mention has been made of the case of a certain Carmen Portelli from Mellieha, regarding the building at 170 Republic Street, Valletta, the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

What the Labour media seemed unaware of, the ministry added, was that the building had been expropriated by the Labour government in 1973. Not only was compensation not paid, but the building was taken over by the government under possession and use, so that instead of compensation, rent would be paid under 1941 values.

In 1988 the Nationalist government stopped using this means.