|
Julian Manduca
Over the last eight years the government has paid about Lm22.5 million in compensation to private individuals for land expropriated by government, but the government is unsure of the amount owing to date, MaltaToday has learned.
From 1997 to August of this year the government has paid Lm22,466,030 in compensation with the highest amount being paid in 2000: Lm5,286,063.
The amount still owing is unknown and the ministry responsible for lands told MaltaToday: “It is not possible to declare the amount owed by the government to private individuals for land expropriated by the government, since the value changes according to the market value.”
The ministry explained: “According to Chapter 88, the compensation offered has to be a reflection of the market value as at the time of service of official communication to the owner. Thus in order to be in a position to give the requested amount at any one time, all pending expropriations would have to be revalued at that time.”
MaltaToday asked the ministry to state the value of land expropriated on a yearly basis over the past years but that was not possible. The problem seems to be a practical one: “Records regarding expropriated property are still not computerised and hence this request would entail a very long exercise involving hundreds of files,” the ministry said.
At least one person who has suffered expropriations over the years has complained that he feels he is not being offered adequate compensation, but the ministry replied: “Any person whose property is expropriated and is not happy with the compensation offered can object, and recourse is made to the Land Arbitration Board for a final judgement. It may be pertinent to point out that the valuations are carried out by architects in private employ, who have years of Experience in the workings of the law and Chapter 88.”
|
