From Mr P. Bezzina

Every so often the issue of the belated rent and property reform in Malta crops up in the press – justice delayed is justice denied; besides which, justice has to be seen to be done.

Although tenants are not house owners, it seems that privileged tenants occupying somebody else’s property are protected and take advantage of emergency wartime laws that go against property owners. The latter have been deprived of their property for over 60 years and are forced to subsidise tenants.

This exploitation of the past decades should not continue to hit house owners, as ultimately, any social assistance – where this is truly needed – is the responsibility of the government that also has a duty to ensure that justice is done to house owners. The first thing to do is to put an end to the automatic inheritance of enforced leases.

Like everyone else in this world, protected tenants should do more to help themselves and not expect their country to nurse them and their extended families forever. The elusive solution would be unanimous agreement between the party in government and the party in Opposition.

The recent appointment of new young faces responsible for lands and finance should create enthusiasm to develop the potential of government property it does not need into a massive amount of money, as well as compensate adequately those whose property has been expropriated.

This will increase our wealth and ensure a fair distribution among all levels of Maltese society.

Paul Bezzina

VITTORIOSA