Action for Housing says it “laments” Minister Orfila’s Response to a question posed in Parliament. 

The group says: “During last Friday's session in Parliament, shadow Housing Minister Damon Bossino asked Minister for Housing Pat Orfila the reason why Action For Housing's monthly meetings with Housing officials had been suspended for six months from September 2024 to February 2025.  At the time, the group were never given any explanations as to why these crucial meetings were suddenly stopped, instead we were treated dismissively.   

“The reply given in Parliament by Minister for Housing Pat Orfila was vague, confusing and certainly misleading, with no genuine attempt to acknowledge her department’s unreasonable behaviour. Then, as it often happens when ministers have difficulty in answering questions when challenged, the Chief Minister intervened but it was palpable that he was unfamiliar with the situation.  Despite his typical analytical oratory, he too failed to explain in a convincing manner why the meetings had been suspended. Instead, he tried to digress by claiming that when in power, over 15 years ago, the opposition had cancelled all meetings with Action for Housing. A claim which is untrue. 

“To this day we are still waiting for the department’s reasoning behind the meeting cancellations which ultimately was detrimental, not just to Action for Housing, but most significantly to those members of the public who come to us for assistance. It is our understanding that when Action for Housing challenges this administration in public, we seem to get penalised as retaliation.”