The House Business Committee was on Monday told that the new parliament building should be completed by March. That being said, the Minister responsible for the building’s completion would not be drawn into giving a date for migration to the new building.
There is no doubt that while the building itself has shaped up nicely and the entrance to Valletta is looking a lot more majestic now than it did in the past with the old ‘Kasbah’ gate and wasted space that used to sit where the new buildings now stand.
But there have been some massive cost over-runs. From the day it was elected to power, the government said that it had come across massive cost over-runs and delays that needed to be sorted out as soon as possible.
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said that the building has cost some 50% more than was originally stated. At present, it is estimated that the final bill will cost some €45m. After initial problems with the quality of the stone which was used, the Chairman of the Valletta Regeneration Committee told the HBC that works on the facade were finally completed.
Yet still, parliament is being delayed by the fact that the desks for the Chamber Block – where MP’s will sit in the plenary, were too big to allow MPs to stand between them. This means that microphones and other equipment cannot be installed until the desks – which are being altered and re-sized in Italy – are completed and delivered.
No date for their arrival has been given, so one has to assume that everything is still up in the air. It is hard to believe that in the year 2015, Malta’s new parliament building is actually being delayed because of furniture. It is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that a project is delayed because of something that should have never happened. But it really is time for the powers that be to put their foot down.
Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia has, on more than one occasion, expressed frustration at the constantly shifting date of completion. Originally, it was supposed to be completed after the Summer recess of 2014. That is already four months ago, and there are more or less another two months to go until March.
The taxpayer will, at the end of the day, be footing the bill. And while the aesthetics of the new building are already being enjoyed, it is hoped that the general public will get its money’s worth when it does finally open its doors.
Many will say that it must be nigh on time for everything to fall into place, it is very much a case that people will believe it when they see it, when that inaugural session takes place... hopefully this coming March.