Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/201600
2 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2013 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 MEPA extends Abela Advocates legal services contract for another three years AFTER Robert Abela's father George was appointed President of the Republic in 2009, the caseload was left to partner Ian Stafrace before the latter was appointed chief executive of MEPA in 2011. Robert Abela and his wife Lydia, who serves as the Labour Party's executive committee's secretary, handled the caseload for MEPA's appeals cases. Robert Abela was touted for a Labour Party candidature in 2012, which he had however turned down. Ian Stafrace, who stepped down as MEPA chief executive on Labour's election to power last March, had resigned his partnership in the firm Abela Stafrace and Associates upon being appointed CEO. At the time of Stafrace's appointment as CEO, the Labour opposition had criticised the direct appointment for the lack of a public call, saying the appointment proved "government interference" in an autonomous authority. On his part, Abela had told the 2012 Labour general conference that the Nationalist administration had offered "20 years of the same faces". The firm has been contracted out by MEPA since 2001, after its head of legal services Anthony De Robert Abela: He had told the 2012 Labour general conference that the Nationalist administration had offered "20 years of the same faces" Gaetano accused the authority of mishandling a domestic planning matter concerning his property due to an alleged political influence. At that time the partnership was fronted by George Abela, who had fallen out with Alfred Sant after serving as Labour deputy leader until 1998. MEPA paid Abela, Stafrace & Associates the staggering amount of €1.23 million up until 2011 for handling its caseload. The firm was originally chosen by MEPA after a call for expressions of interest, and the authority retains the right to terminate the appointment at any moment in time. The company is one of two firms conducting legal work at MEPA. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt