The claims made by the Carnival Float-builders regarding an eviction order served by Malta Industrial Parks (MIP) do not do justice to the facts, MIP said.

MIP is the government entity responsible for the administration of industrial property and said the site in question falls within its responsibility. The site was transferred to its portfolio in 2008 as a result of a new industrial project which required the allocation of land. Since 2008, MIP had initiated the required action to clear the temporary occupiers, since no trace or proof of occupation was found. To this effect MIP has been in constant and frequent contact with the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and the Lands Department. This action has been stepped up in recent months in view of an instruction from the Magistrate’s Courts to take all the necessary action to hand over the site in its free and unencumbered state to its rightful title holder.

MIP said it had never allocated the site to the float builders nor has it done so with any other sites to any other float builders. MIP said the information it has is that the float builders were granted permission for the temporary use of the site prior to 2008.

As for the request for the ex-Soldini factory, MIP said industrial property can only be allocated to industrial projects as detailed in the Business Promotion Act. Moreover, the location and size of the ex-Soldini factory makes it a prime strategic site which is being reserved for potential high value-added investments. MIP said it had offered the possibility of the Carnival Village being integrated within the Crafts Village concept at Ta’ Qali, but this was rejected by the float builders.