Was this part of the secret deal with China?
China has bought a big tract of land at Pembroke, from the government of Malta, for Eur7.8 million. There it will construct a mega-embassy compound on the lines of what the United States of America has at Ta’ Qali.
The Opposition has said in parliament that it doesn’t disagree in principle with something designed to further diplomatic relations, but it’s main concern is that residents are not disturbed.
I’d say the main concern is whether this is part of the secretive deal China signed with Muscat when he was Opposition leader in 2010, or whether it is part of any ongoing bargaining now.
Given the inclination of this government to give people a commission on the strangest of things – a director of the insolvent Cafe Premier operating company was given a commission by the government on the deal he struck with it for the cancelling of his company’s own debts to the government itself – the Opposition should also ask whether anyone is taking a cut.
It will get no answer, but at least it will have asked the question.
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Tal – misthija : €700 per s.m. Residential area f’Pembroke . Jigiefieri plot normali ta’ 6m b’25m fond jiswa €100,000 ? Mela veru qed inbieghu Malta bhal karawett ?
Let’s just put everything in perspective. Land in Madliena is going for €1000 per square metre, and that’s for just half to 1 tumolo of land.
Now China has bought more land and will most likely only develop a relatively small percentage of it. Hence the price is so low. The question here isn’t the price, but how the deal was done.
All the 11000 square metres of land was earmarked for residential development.
http://www.mepa.org.mt/LpDocumentDetails?syskey=1544
file:///C:/Users/P3510/Music/Downloads/PC%2042_10%20Policy%20(1).pdf
MEPA’s documents say that site in question (site E) is designated for the construction of maisonettes and flats. It also says that MEPA would consider the construction of an embassy on that site.
However, if someone wants to buy an X number of plots of developable land to build just one and have the rest as landscaped area, its tough luck for him. He has to buy ALL the land at the same price of developable land.
Furthermore, you can only build 30% of any land in Madliena. So you cannot really compare Madliena villa zone area with Pembroke zoned for terrace housing. In my view, Pembroke land is in the region of €1300 per s.m. – and that makes the land total market value at close to double of the sale value.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/mobile/view/20141123/local/1bn-bridge-for-gozo-would-take-four-years.545206
Pembroke land for the construction of a bridge . That’s the deal . Crazy .
Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox.
Plot bil-qisien li semmejt int u fil-Madliena u ghall-prezz ta’ mitt elf ewro huwa ragenevoli, biex ma nghidx prezz ftit baxx.
THe following is based on “asking prices” taken from leading estate agents websites just now (market value would realistically be 10% lower than that)
A typical plot of land (6m x 25m), zoned for terrace housing in Pembroke / Swieqi area (as is the case for the site being sold to the Chinese), is worth at least Lm 100,000 (€ 230,000). Market value after deducting 10% on asking price works out at €1380 / s.m.
That same plot anywhere else in the island is being marketed at Lm 85,000 ( € 200,000) . Market value – € 1150 / s.m.
Half a tumolo of land (560 s.m.) zoned for villa development in Madliena is in the region of Lm300,000 (€ 700,000). That works out roughly at € 1100 / s.m. Prima facia this might look low when compared with the above. But when you consider that you can only build your house on 30% of the 560 s.m. the price per s.m. of ‘buildable land’ is above € 3000.
No matter how you look at it € 700 /s.m. for a Pembroke plot of land is peanuts. (unless it is part of a bigger deal)
“The Americans got their base in Ta’ Qali, and we thought the Chinese should get theirs too. That’s what the flower’s about.”
Both are of equal stupidity.
“…the main concern is whether this is part of the secretive deal China signed with Muscat when he was Opposition leader in 2010, or whether it is part of any ongoing bargaining now.”
Bingo!
The Opposition could also ask whether or not Joseph Muscat (personally) is taking a cut off each passport sold, seeing that he is acting like Henley & Partners’ “paljazza”.
And Codruta’s husband? Do you think he’s just an observer? Why was he so adamant on the secrecy clause?
Lock up your cats.
All superpowers want a super-embassy on Malta, for occultic and noetic and Freemasonic reasons and to access a nearby star-gate.
Russia will also want a huge super-embassy presence on Malta.
Isn’t the one they already have in Kappara big enough for their ambitions?
Remember, it was built before the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and whilst Malta was still under Mintoff’s party.
They already have one.
The Labour government has long given out and made some very peculiar deals on land.
Malta Enterprise should be familiar with this because it has picked up where Mintoff left off.
I object to having a diplomatic relationship with dictatorships, let alone enlarging their mission in Malta.
Naive Opposition again! They should never publish the first thing that comes to mind as this is going to be the Naive answer. Unfortunately when not street wise by nature, some good thinking should first take place on these lines, then read what is being said by journalists who are capable of seeing through this government and ONLY then pronounce itself sensibly.
Why would China want a large embassy in Malta? Do we have lots of Chinese residents?
Yes, working in sweat shop factories in Bulebel.
I’ve heard the figure of 6000, but don’t quote me. Do your own research.
Sai Mizzi said that. She also said that only one is worth Eur13,000 a month.
Any guesses who is the notary?
It will be large enough to relocate Leisure Clothing as well as accommodate the workers.
Just when you think that Labour can’t possibly mess things up more than they are doing, they surprise you!
This is a truly multi-faceted government.