Antoine de Paule Square in Paola has so far cost over €2.2 million, with final costs still to be determined following more payments to be made, said Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici today, in reply to a parliamentary question made by MP Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.

Earlier in the year, controversy about the project arose following a social media post by Arnold Cassola showing the dramatic change with before and after photos of said square, given that the trees were removed.

Bonnici also confirmed in another parliamentary question by Mifsud Bonnici that there were 40 trees in the square with many of them having been planted in Gnien Il-Mediterran and others in the Addolorata cemetery.

Furthermore, Bonnici noted in yet another parliamentary question by Mifsud Bonnici on the subject, that since the contract for the square was originally intended to be concluded by mid-October since the works were finished earlier, there was no need to provide compensation for any loss of business to shop owners in the square.