Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife Lydia have had a sudden change of heart about developing a Xewkija farmhouse they own into a guesthouse and have officially withdrawn the development application.
The Abelas’ architect for the now-shelved project, Joe Cassar, has informed the Planning Authority that a development permit to convert the property into a seven double-bedroom tourist accommodation with an underground pool and spa will no longer be sought.
The application’s withdrawal comes after The Shift paid a visit to the site and discovered that construction work was already underway even though the plans were still being assessed for approval by the Planning Authority.
Making matters worse still, the notice on the site even quoted a permit application (PA01188/23) that had not yet been approved to justify the ongoing construction works. It also failed to indicate the work’s commencement date.
Information affixed to the Abelas’ farmhouse quoting a still-pending permit application while construction was in full swing.
The Shift revealed how work on the site – while the permit was still pending approval and before it was withdrawn – was in full swing.
It was being carried out by Xewkija contractor Vella Brothers Ready-Mix Ltd, known as Tal-Malla, which has been receiving millions of euros in direct orders in recent years. One such direct order was for the construction of a Gozo Museum, which has been ongoing for years with no end in sight.
Office of the Prime Minister spokesperson Edward Montebello, in a message sent to The Shift on a Sunday morning, the day of publication, rejected reports that the Prime Minister was having illegal work carried out at his property, calling the story “an outright lie” despite evidence published.
It was followed by an attack on The Shift on the Labour Party’s propaganda outlet, ONE.
He did not substantiate his claims when asked to indicate the permit he was referring to and to explain how the Prime Minister publicly displayed the wrong application to cover the ongoing works.
The Planning Authority has also bent over backwards to try to justify the Prime Minister’s irregular actions.
The Planning Authority did not reply to questions about how it knew that no illegal work had taken place on the site or to specify which permit the Planning Authority was referring to.
An old and expired permit?
Robert and Lydia Abela have owned the Xewkija farmhouse for years.
In 2012, they applied and were given a Planning Authority permit (1220/12) to restore the old farmhouse, carry out internal alterations and transform it into a four-bedroom residence with a large pool in the backyard.
The Prime Minister and his wife have withdrawn their application to convert their Xewkija farmhouse into a guesthouse.
No such work was done.
In March 2018, the Abelas applied for a permit renewal (PA8827/17) since the original had expired.
But work had not commenced until a few weeks ago. No commencement date was published on the Planning Authority website and the commencement date on the obligatory public display was left void.
According to the rules, the 2018 permit expired in March 2023, by which time the work should have been completed.
After acquiring public funds from the government’s Irrestawra Darek Scheme in 2021, they obtained a permit to restore the property’s façade and to change the apertures. Once again, a commencement date was not posted on the Planning Authority website.
In a further development earlier this year, the Abelas applied to change the original plans to develop the property into a seven double-bedroom residence. As reported by The Shift, this indicated the Prime Minister was aiming to use a residential permit, with lower fees, to turn the residence into a small boutique hotel.
Soon after The Shift’s report, the Prime Minister and his wife changed the plans once again and instead marked the development application as a guesthouse.
The latter application has now been withdrawn after they changed their minds once again.
PM’s farmhouse in Xewkija where works were being carried out without a permit.
It is not yet clear if the Prime Minister now intends to continue to develop his Xewkija abode as a residence and under which permit or application he will continue to do so.
Abela is meanwhile also preparing to begin a major development in Zejtun, where he acquired a two-tumolo farmhouse in an Outside Development Zone for a declared price of just €600,000.
He acquired the farmhouse just five days after the Planning Authority approved the sanctioning of a raft of illegalities on the site. The Abelas were the Planning Authority’s legal advisors at the time and were being paid around €17,000 a month for their services.
so this is the same case as construction korradin… if the workers would get hurt? this is an example of how the Labor Party just tries to have a good picture but no facts
In Mintoff’s time, everywhere possible in Malta a roundabout was constructed.
Now the Abela’s have decided that U-turns are more appropriate. Whether in their private affairs or more importantly when it comes to good governance.
The only U-turn as yet not effected is the Continuity declaration when appointed PM.
It is no wonder the Government is like a rudderless ship heading for the rocks when the captain of the ship keeps changing his mind which is the best course to steer to avoid the rocks which the Shift so diligently and frequently reminds him he’s heading for.
May all aboard please pray that his command is removed before it is too late?
It’s too late dear chap. It took us decades (what 26 years) with a Nationalist Government at the helm to put things right and proudly place our Dear Islands on the map once more.
In a span of 10 years, a present Labour Party Government (Total pigs in a trough) starting with the crooked Joseph Muscat and his ever corrupt cohorts, followed by a gofer (Hmmm, gopher), named Robert Abela reversed all the credibility Malta stood for.
All thanks to their never ending and massive corrupt practices.
Adding insult to injury Robert Abela nominated and placed the present Standards Commissioner, a biased person if I have ever seen one and who seems to be in cahoots with a Labour Party in Government.
You’re a bit biased, but still you have to wait at least four years.
Miskin, hux…
OMG! He is THE Prime Minister of Malta.
He should not be a role model or an example.
He just should quit. Better today than tomorrow.
Malta suffers under his inglorious reign.
Happy dreams
Kif dejjem nghid jien li ghal haxi biss jinqalaw dal-liba minn fuq s-isfel.
Thank you for your ongoing investigations, raising awareness about these ħniżrijiet. I am quite confident that without your work, they would run roughshod over us all.
robber abela, il-konsulent ta’ l-akbar xpm korrott li qatt rat Malta, qieghed juri li hu aghar min ta qablu u ghalhekk jixraqlu t-titlu li ha ta’ qablu u b’hekk nigu fuq il-guiness world book of records.
Next U-TURN, this country needs is aCHANGE IN GOVERNMENT & MENTALITY to put Malta back where it belongs.