‘Deal’ is struck over disputed buildings

A deal has been struck between the Labour party and a private company, Tamarac Ltd, over two properties in Pembroke worth millions, although the nature of the agreement has not been revealed. The final deed has not yet been signed and the two sides were tight-lipped yesterday over the details. The properties – Australia Hall and the former Raffles disco – had been granted to the party in the late 1970s by the Labour government of the time in exchange for its former headquarters in Marsa. Labour’s lawyer Paul Lia broke the news of the agreement during court proceedings yesterday in a case that had been instituted against Labour by Tamarac Ltd. Dr Lia told the judge that since an agreement has been reached it was recommended the case be deferred until after the summer so that the final public deed could be signed. “There is an agreement and for me the case can be dropped,” Dr Lia told the court. “I can tell you that it wasn’t easy to reach a deal but we managed.” Prof. Ian Refalo, representing Tamarac, agreed that an agreement with Labour was close and that the case should be postponed until October. The court accepted the request. Speaking to Times of Malta afterwards, a more...