Minister denies visit to housing authority apartment was meant to ridicule CEO

Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro denied today that her visit yesterday to a housing authority-owned apartment was an attempt to ridicule the CEO. The minister yesterday said that more than 700 people were living in dangerous structures owned by the Housing Authority. To highlight these dangers she went to an apartment rented out to an 89-year-old woman who complained the place was inadequate. She was accompanied by Housing Authority CEO Albert Buttigieg, who looked visibly flustered as Maria Concetta Knight pointed out all the "shortcomings", including a cracked bathroom sink and a missing soap dish in the shower. The visit was received with criticism and some deemed it inappropriate, and an attempt to ridicule Dr Buttigieg. But Ms Coleiro Preca said today the visit meant to emphasise that social housing had to be approached holistically.  “Little things, which to us might seem petty are a lot for an old woman,” she said. Ms Coleiro-Preca said she did not criticise the CEO, but asked him to comment on the number of complaints about that block of apartments. Asked whether anyone would be made to resign, the minister said this was not necessary but it was important that the...