Where are the Gozo Minister’s antiques?
The Minister for Gozo
Anton Refalo, Minister for Gozo, is a well-known collector of antique furniture.
Given that certain 18th-century pieces can cost as much as a flat (this does not mean he has any, but what if he does?) should not such things be listed in the declaration of assets?
I find it ridiculous that ministers are obliged to list only shares in companies, their financial investment portfolio, their savings and cash, and their real estate.
So they’re not obliged to declare a car bought for Eur70,000, but they are obliged to declare the garage they put it in, which might have cost half that.
It makes no sense.
In any case, Anton Refalo is quite the mini real estate magnate. He owns 13 flats, his home in Victoria, four offices, two garages, “half a tenement” (whatever that means) in Xlendi, “property in Qala” (a farcical description he should not be allowed to get away with, because that could be anything from a shop to a whacking great condo development), “half of property in Qala” (ditto), and “a third of arable land in Xlendi” (again, he shouldn’t be allowed to get away without specifying just how much land).
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Did Joseph declare Michelle’s handbag?
Next year, the PM should also declare his Alfa. It’s earning him Euro 7,000 p.a. for the next 5 years. And that’s before taking into account the refund of VAT on registration tax, promised by Muscat before the elections.
With a current market resale value of no more than Euro 10,000, that Alfa is quite an investment.
Is there no rental income from all that property?
Anton Refalo bought George Borg Olivier’s desk for Eur25,000.
The property in Qala costs around 3 million euro. It’s a huge villa with pool in the Dahlet Qorrot Valley.
There’s a description of that Refalo villa here:
http://gozonews.com/1018/natural-environment-in-gozo-is-dying-joe-portelli/
‘The villa of Dr Anton Refalo Labour MP overlooking Dahlet Qorrot Bay, which was originally one room with a footprint of 48 square metres, has now been extended by much more and has a boundary wall perched on top of a garigue environment. Perhaps Dr Anton needs to collect his thoughts in a serene environment after serving the nation and the poor and deserves this place, but it is still in an ODZ.’
He also services a €830k loan with an annual income of €45k. Fascinating!
Just. If interest is at 5% interest works out at Eur41500. That leaves him with 3500 a year to live on, and which should clearly (in Minister Mizzi’s terms, cara hafna din) be ample for his and his birds lifestyle.
Forgot to mention, declared income is always gross, so he would need to pay the tax on 41500 from the 3500. I’m sure he has an innocent explanation, if only he would be kind enough to illuminate us so that we can do the same.
Anton Refalo bought George Borg Olivier’s desk at auction a couple of years ago, I believe. That alone cost as much as a garage.
Can an annual income of Eur45,149 service a Eur 830,000 loan? Maybe he is not declaring rental income on many of his properties.
Properties: residence in Victoria, three flats in Marsalforn, garage and office in Victoria, flat in Msida, three flats in Qbajjar, half of a tenement in Xlendi, office in Għarb, office in Żebbuġ (Gozo), office, two flats and garage in Xewkija, property in Qala, half of property in Qala, three flats in Xlendi, a third of arable land in Xlendi.
Money in banks: €38,598.
Income in 2012: Parliamentary Honoraria €20,129, Lawyer €6,470, Salary of Mikelina Refalo €18,560.
Loans: €830,371
There’s something odd there. Surely all those properties are not sitting empty, and are rented out?
Lawyer €6,470 – his wife earns more from her profession.
“Where are the Gozo Minister’s antiques?”
The straight answer is “In the cabinet”
I can tell you about Anton Refalo’s “three flats in Xlendi”. They are at Triq il-Punici and are ‘furnished’ flats rented almost all year round, mostly by foreign tourists.
His wife administers these flats i.e. showing them to customers, handing over the keys, etc.
I challenge Mr Refalo to declare ALL the fiscal receipts issued on these rentals alone. He would surely clear a good percentage of his loan. Shame that we are fed this rubbish.
It would be interesting to see how he ended up owning so many flats and so much real estate.
What does this man actually do for a living?
He should declare if he has a Maltese clock, just in case he is accused of accepting a bribe.
The Opposition should challenge the declarations and if found inaccurate, request the Speaker to charge the respective Ministers and PSes with contempt of Parliament.
Without paying any interest (and that’s saying something) poor Dr. Refalo and his wife need 18 years to pay off their loan while living on nothing.