The Opposition had requested the Public Accounts Committee to investigate an alleged breach of public contract between the government and the General Workers’ Union.
Shadow Minister Jason Azzopardi and Nationalist MP Ryan Callus explained that the GWO were owned by the government but leased to the GWU on emphyteusis. The government and the GWU had signed an agreement in 1997 whereby the union could not sub-lease its premises in Valletta to any entity in which it did not have a 51% stake.
Yet the GWU was leasing a section of its premises to Arms Ltd.
Mr Callus said the government was supposed to be the guardian of public properties, but it was turning out to be the opposite, as evidence by what had happened to Australia Hall and Cafe’ premier.