Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541835
CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Although Galdes has de- scribed the penthouse, which is in shell form, as a four-room property of around 80sq.m, it has a rooftop jacuzzi and is located in a development that has a communal swimming pool. The price also includes a garage. But it is not just the "ridicu- lous" price of the property that has raised eyebrows, another Labour backbencher said. They noted that the Housing Au- thority, which answers to Gal- des, last year leased more than 100 apartments from Joseph Portelli for use as social hous- ing. The arrangement is part of an ongoing scheme that is open to all developers and individu- als who want to lease dwellings for 10 years to the authority. "Even if everything was above board, having Joseph Portelli's company benefitting from the scheme in the same year that it was selling Roderick Galdes a penthouse at bargain price just makes for bad optics," the backbencher said, adding that at the very least Galdes had a conflict of interest. "Roderick Galdes made an er- ror of judgement and now it's the Labour Party and the gov- ernment that are suffering the consequences," a fourth MP said, suggesting that the minis- ter has no way out but to resign from Cabinet. "The incident is embarrassing and among my constituents it has become a subject of ridi- cule," they said. But Galdes is also hounded by the accusations of "hobnob- bing" with contractors levelled towards him by Marlene Mizzi, a former Labour MEP. Mizzi headed Malita Invest- ments, a government-majori- ty-owned company tasked with the financing and building so- cial accommodation. Mizzi claimed she was removed in May 2024 because she stood up to Galdes and refused his in- terference in Malita's operations. Galdes has denied the accusations. The executive chair Gal- des appointed after Mizzi, Jo- hann Farrugia, resigned last week, in the aftermath of news that Malita had suspended works on three of the social housing sites because of cash flow problems. Company accounts show Malita had a shortfall of €60 million by 2022 to be able to complete the housing projects after it had burnt through a €58 million loan from the Europe- an Investment Bank. After a successful share issue complet- ed in 2024 that gave the com- pany a €30 million injection, Malita was, however, unable to secure additional financing to bridge the gap. Things came to a head during the summer when the cashflow crisis forced the company to tempo- rarily suspend works. According to a fifth Labour backbencher, the situation at Malita complicated matters further, especially with Mar- lene Mizzi's claims that Galdes is close to contractors. "The Malita situation simply adds to the bad vibe created by Roderick Galdes's penthouse saga," another Labour back- bencher said, suggesting that Galdes should have stepped down. But the MP added the prime minister was also at fault for defending Roderick Galdes. "I believe it was a mistake for Robert Abela to justify the penthouse price and sticking with the minister when he knows how sensitive the hous- ing issue is for sections of the electorate," the MP said. "The longer the prime min- ister keeps Roderick Galdes on board, the more damage will be done to the government and the party." 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS MATTHEW AQUILINA On the 26 th anniversary of your tragic and mysterious disappearance together with the other passengers of the Piper Lance 9H-ABU We miss you so much dearest Matthew, love Mama, Papa, Daniel & Adrienne, Gillian, Emma, Sophie, Luisa, Anna, Nino, Mattia, Luca, family and friends. Please remember Matthew in your thoughts and prayers. Roderick Galdes under pressure over the purchase of a duplex penthouse in Gozo Left to right: The property is situated in the Tal Gelmus residential complex in Rabat, Gozo, built by developers Joseph Portelli, Mark Agius and Daniel Refalo