PN MP Albert Buttigieg has come out in favour of the MDA's statement criticising the alleged free granting of public land to develop affordable housing plots. He said that developers are set to reap hefty profits through this manoeuvre; Housing Minister Roderick Galdes has rebuked this claim as "fake news."
Buttigieg observed that in the past month, the government has come out with a scheme where it is giving developers free public land on the condition that they build affordable housing plots, which will be sold to first-time buyers at a 30% discount from comparable market rates.
Affordable housing targets people who are too financially vulnerable to independently seek a property from the private sector, but still too financially comfortable to qualify for government social housing schemes. The Foundation for Affordable Housing (FAH) had referred to this category of citizens as "the stretched class."
Buttigieg commented that "this is a neat move" for developers to make a larger profit than usual when one factors in that the given land is worth "much more" than 30% of the total cost/subsidy.
"This means that the developer's profit will be much greater because the land came to him for free," Buttigieg said.
The PN MP said he would not be shocked if the developers to handle these developments have already been earmarked or selected beforehand. Additionally, he said it would have been more optimal if the government had constructed these apartments itself and then granted the subsidy afterwards, "as was done in the past."
Buttigieg stated that now, "the selected developers will take a hefty percentage of the profits instead of this going to the first time buyers!"
'Albert Buttigieg is either on another planet or is pushing fake news,' Minister Galdes says
The Minister for Social Accommodation, Roderick Galdes, condemned the Opposition MP's comments, declaring that "Albert Buttigieg is either living on another planet or is pushing fake news."
The Housing Minister remarked that Buttigieg must have forgotten that he was one of the very Opposition MPs who voted in favour of this affordable housing scheme being done between the government and the Church.
Hence, Minister Galdes wrote on his public Facebook page that through his statement, PN MP Buttigieg has attacked the government, the Church, as well as families and youths waiting for this opportunity to purchase an affordable home. He added that whenever the government and the Church join forces, it is expected to receive criticism afterwards - even from some of the very people who had previously voted in favour of this scheme in Parliament.
Minister Galdes noted that those discussing "developers' profits," forget that this project will grant homes to over 260 families at a 30% discount from market price. "That is not a manoeuvre, that is social justice," the Minister said.
The Housing Minister then threw shade at Buttigieg for his time as CEO of the Housing Authority. Galdes jabbed that as Housing Authority CEO, Buttigieg did not lift a finger to construct any social housing plots.
"Buttigieg can boast that as CEO of the Housing Authority, during the Gonzi PN era, the waiting list was amongst the largest in Malta's history. Today he wants to preach...or rather, push fake news," Minister Galdes wrote.
The Minister concluded that a Labour Government will always believe that social policy should not be left to the private market, and this is why the government continues to work for the citizens interests, rather than the interests of a few.
He added that the Nationalist Party has nothing to offer, except for throwing mud.