Education Minister Clifton Grima is facing scrutiny following revelations about plans involving a Rabat villa located in an area of archaeological importance.The property, situated in the Tal-Virtù area, is the subject of plans to demolish the existing villa and replace it with a newly built detached residence that would include a basement garage and pool as reported by Times of Malta.A Planning Authority case officer’s report previously noted that excavation works for basements are not normally permitted in areas of archaeological sensitivity. However, the same report stated that an outline permit for the proposal had already been issued in 2020, subject to monitoring by cultural heritage authorities.Rabat is considered one of Malta’s most protected localities due to the high number of archaeological discoveries recorded in the area.Property records indicate that Grima purchased the Rabat villa in 2023 for €1.2 million. The acquisition followed the sale of his St Julian’s townhouse for €1.4 million to CF Developers Limited, a consortium that at the time included developer Joseph Portelli.The transaction has drawn attention due to its timing and links to separate government decisions involving Portelli.Grima finalised the sale in February 2023. Around the same period, his ministry was engaged in discussions with Ħamrun Spartans, a football club owned by Portelli, regarding the lease of the Victor Tedesco Stadium.In January 2023, while serving as sports minister, Grima presented a parliamentary motion to transfer the land to the club. In March, he presided over an agreement granting Ħamrun Spartans a 49-year lease at a significantly reduced ground rent.The minister did not publicly disclose his €1.4 million property deal with Portelli’s company during those discussions.A spokesperson for the minister rejected any suggestion of a conflict of interest.“There is no conflict of interest as regards the sports facilities concession to Ħamrun Spartans,” the spokesperson said, noting that numerous clubs benefit from similar arrangements.The spokesperson stated that all contracts proposed by the minister were approved by parliament under identical conditions and that Ħamrun Spartans did not receive preferential treatment.They also said the reduced ground rent forms part of a standard government subsidy extended to sports organisations under existing schemes, with largely identical contractual terms.According to the spokesperson, the process involving Ħamrun Spartans began in January 2021, two years before the minister’s private property transaction, after SportMalta received a request from the club to initiate the concession.They added that all related agreements were cabinet decisions unanimously approved by parliament.•