The Fortina case is not an isolated one, as the Lands Authority has long been led with a mentality of a lack of transparency, even after the Sofia inquiry, Nationalist Party MPs stated during a press conference outside the Lands Authority building on Tuesday.

PN MP Stanley Zammit said that recommendations made in the Sofia inquiry for more control and governance have still not been implemented, adding that the Ombudsman has accused the Lands Authority of making frivolous excuses and not cooperating.

Zammit said that the PN wants “full transparency, real accountability, the protection of public land, and a radical reform within the Lands Authority”. He continued that public funds should be used to help people, adding that “the €16 million stolen from the people” could have been used to help around 550 families or couples to purchase their first home, or to invest in rent-to-own schemes, among other initiatives.

He described the Fortina case as a scandal which directly impacts the Maltese and Gozitan people. He commented that it is a case of abuse and waste of public land under the nose of the government through a Lands Authority helmed by people who were appointed by and answer to the government.

Zammit said that the PN is speaking with a clear vision, one of good governance and transparency, justice, investment in essential services and the creation of more affordable housing, and a government which ensures the rights of citizens as well as pays back what citizens should have by right.

PN MP Darren Carabott said that the government wants to attempt to place the blame in this case on the Lands Authority, “but the Opposition has a different priority,” which he said is the discrepancy in the realities within the country.

Carabott commented that families and young couples are struggling to keep up with costs and trying to buy properties in Malta.

He continued that the NAO Fortina report made it clear that the government was negotiating away from the values given by experts on land in Sliema, “giving a discount to Fortina for €8 million.”

“Do the people get this type of discount to buy property?” Carabott questioned, as he continued by speaking of how the PN now wants the government to take all the possible legal steps to ensure that the money lost is returned to the people, and for those who failed the people to take accountability.

He stated that PN Leader Alex Borg has requested that the government call for a public inquiry. Carabott added that the PN hopes that Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa has not been waiting for the NAO report to begin conducting investigations, but rather that investigations have long been ongoing.

Fellow PN MP Ryan Callus remarked that the Opposition has always been consistent in being in favour of the people. Discussing the case, he said that the estimation conducted by the Lands Authority for €8 million was actually €12 million, but commented that someone gave the instruction for €4 million in transfer duty to be buried.

Callus said that the transfer should never have happened, and added that as the government chose to go over the Opposition and do it anyway, they had, in doing so, gone over the people as well.

He questioned why the Lands Minister never took action on the matter after becoming aware of the second valuation, and commented that this sort of case is unacceptable in the democratic nature of the country.

The MPs concluded by saying that the PN is requesting that the Prime Minister go to the courts and take legal steps for justice to be done for the people and to recover the money.