The dream that came true... thanks to the government

A €1.2 million “dream” of the Prime Minister’s wife Michelle Muscat, to build a meeting space “for NGOs” under the auspices of the Marigold Foundation, the NGO she chairs, was made possible thanks to the government tapping EU funds for the project and taxpayers footing the difference.

This move has angered other NGOs who struggle to raise funding for their own projects and were not even informed about the new space ostensibly built for them.

The meeting space was launched last week by the Prime Minister and his wife, along with Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon.

Dr Falzon’s ministry has dedicated an annual budget vote to finance its operations and maintenance.

The Prime Minister said during the launch that it was his wife Michelle’s “dream” to give a home to NGOs.

Neil Falzon, from NGO Aditus, said he found out about the new building “from the news”. “We would be happy to receive information of course,” Dr Falzon said.

The sentiment was echoed by SOS Malta’s Claudia Taylor-East, who also knew nothing of the project. She said it was strange that NGOs working in the sectors the new centre was supposed to be catering for appeared to know little about it.

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