Illegal Wolt distribution centre becomes Rosianne Cutajar’s office

An illegal distribution centre run by Wolt that operated unchecked for years is now being converted into what appears to be a district office run by Equality Minister Rosianne Cutajar’s electoral team.

While the office remains unfurnished and there appears to be little to no activity on the site, residents within the area confirmed with The Shift that the signage promoting Cutajar’s candidacy was placed on the site on the eve of voting day.

In April, The Shift reported the latest update on Wolt’s operation of a distribution centre at the corner of Triq San Bastjan and Triq l-Arkata since 2023. The centre now appears to have ceased operating, and has been vacated to make way for Cutajar’s district office.

According to the Planning Authority’s (PA) MapServer, no new planning applications, documents, or notices have been filed for the site in question.

In fact, an enforcement notice previously filed against Wolt’s distribution centre remains active, with the PA’s site noting that daily fines issued for the infraction remain unpaid.

While it was still operational, the distribution centre had caused frustration and inconvenience for residents in the area, who had successfully objected to the proposed sanctioning of the centre.

Despite the PA’s refusal and the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal’s (EPRT) confirmation of that refusal, the centre continued to operate until it was suddenly converted into the district office a few weeks ago. Signage promoting Cutajar’s electoral campaign was put up shortly after.

Wolt and Ta’ Dernis Properties Ltd, the major contractors who own the building, had refused to respond to The Shift’s questions.

Though she was previously forced to resign from Cabinet in disgrace in 2021 after her chats with Yorgen Fenech were leaked, Cutajar has nonetheless been reappointed to Abela’s new Cabinet following the Labour Party’s fourth consecutive electoral victory.

The Equality Minister, who contested in the sixth and twelfth district, had a particularly heavy electoral operation going on in her hometown of Qormi, with multiple canvassers spotted around the town’s voting station and at least two district offices within metres from each other.

Cutajar’s expensive electoral campaign, which included a horse-racing event in the middle of Mrieħel Bypass and an extensive social media blitz, led to her securing 3,500 votes from both districts, a significant tally after spending five years as a backbencher MP in Parliament.

Questions regarding the illegally converted district office have been sent to the Equality Minister, but no response has been received.