A restaurant in Msida, which has been allowed for years to operate from government-owned premises without any form of title and with a pending eviction following a court order, was given an award by Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo just a few weeks ago.
La Vela restaurant, situated on the water’s edge of the Msida Marina, with direct open views of the picturesque sea enclave, was presented the MTA’s ‘Star Awards’ certificate.
Countersigned by the chairman of the MTA, Gavin Gulia, and the president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), Tony Zahra, the MTA scheme encourages restaurant owners to uphold the finest industry standards.
The restaurant occupying a public building illegally for years.
Operated by Noi Tre Ltd, a company co-owned by Michelle Muscat, Noel Mifsud and an Italian businessman, La Vela has been operating from the Msida Marina government premises without a title for more than a decade.
Although the Rent Regulation Board in 2018 issued a court order for the occupiers of the premises to be evicted, as they are considered to be squatters on public property, the Lands Authority has done nothing to uphold the court order and the restaurant is still up and running to this day.
Only a few weeks ago, the court reiterated its position that the premises are being occupied by La Vela illegally and the operators should have been evicted by the authorities long ago. It questioned why the Lands Authority has not acted to stop the blatant abuse.
La Vela’s co-owner Michelle Muscat with Labour insider Luke Dalli
Through a case instituted by Albert and Yolanda Bone from Valletta against Michelle Muscat, the couple claimed they are owed over €60,000 in unpaid rent dues from a sub-lease contract they signed with Muscat in 2008.
The court established that while it was true that the Bones’ originally had the title of the premises to operate a snack bar, their action to sub-lease the government property was illegal and breached the conditions of the original deed they had acquired through the Lands Department in the ’90s.
This, the court said, effectively rendered null and void any sort of contract they had entered into with Michelle Muscat, with the court throwing out their case to claim dues from La Vela’s co-owner.
The court observed that while the Bones’ had acted illegally, it noted that the court had already ordered the eviction of the premises of the current occupiers, who don’t hold any title.
It is not yet known why the Lands Authority has been delaying its action to uphold the court’s eviction order since 2018.
A perfect microcosm of the squatters in government and its departments.
Has something change since Joseph Muscat to the better?
No.
Judging by the photo, ‘media adviser’ Savior Balzan needs firing.
… jeez
MAFIA – ZDIED KORROT IEHOR. ISTHU IDRU— QUDDIEM IN-NIES.
Well done Lands Authority. Let’s see how the Authority will act.
The lessor is at fault due to the change of use of the premises. The lessees do not hold any title and are squatters.
Only in Malta do we manage to mess things to such an extent.
IMBRULJUNI
Is the mentioned Michelle Muscat, the wife of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat?
No
In fact, I later checked it on the MBR site, and confirmed she is not.
Interesting is that the company Noi Tre Ltd filed the accounts for 7 years up to 2017, all on 25 March 2022, and removed the auditor two days later.
Although historic, I will be reviewing the accounts, and commenting if untoward figures are noted.
Is my reply to Godfrey Ganado still being checked?? I wonder why!
No wonder – we don’t carry insults and attacks against individuals. Learn how to build an argument.
kudos to your pn administration. the one that actually handed over these premises to the present users . oh sorry to disapoint you but no thsi is another michelle not the one your hatred for her shines tru out your head
Do you have a modicum of common sense and ability to comprehend basic English?
The premises were sub leased by the Bone family who were the legal tenants at the time. The government of the time had no visibility or control on the transaction, whereas the current leaders of Gahanistan have two court judgements to guide them.
As they lord it over us, they’ve turned our Island into their fiefdom.
They, not me, voted for this corruption and chaos. Enjoy it now
Just do not frequent! Do not give them your hard earned cash!