Opposition leader Alfred Sant yesterday challenged Industry, Investments and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt and Water Services Corporation chairman Michael Falzon to hold a public inquest into the state of affairs at the Corporation.
Speaking on One Radio yesterday, Dr Sant cried foul over tender awarding practices at the WSC in that two large contractors were taking home the majority of the Corporation’s contracts – incurring additional and unnecessary expenses for the public entity.
Stating that Dr Gatt and Mr Falzon were both aware of the situation, Dr Sant alleged one of the contractors in question, a Gozitan, forms part of Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono’s inner circle and is also close to Roads and Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett.
Dr Sant yesterday alleged the contractor in question had been awarded a tender by the Drainage Department, which falls under the WSC, for work at the new Gozitan waste water treatment plant, despite the fact there had been a rival company offering the same work at Lm1.5 million less than the winning bidder.
Now serious problems have cropped up, according to Dr Sant, with the contractor’s tanks, which had been made of inferior quality concrete and which had developed leakages – a situation Dr Gatt was aware of and one which he had asked Mr Falzon to take action over.
Dr Sant also alleged irregularities in that the contractor in question had two companies bidding on contracts. The company had been awarded two contracts by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools – one for a new school in Rabat, Gozo and another in Pembroke, another for roads in San Lawrenz, and another contract for works on the Manwel Dimech bridge, which was far behind schedule.
The contracor was also awarded tenders for the construction of new factories at Hal Far for Malta Enterprise, another government agency, where works were also lagging behind schedule. Dr Sant said the contractor was also bidding for works at the waste water plant for the south of Malta.
Calling for a public inquest into the matters raised, Dr Sant insisted the Public Accounts Committee was no venue for a discussion about the contracts, since the government prefers the Committee discussing years’ old issues rather than current events.
Dr Sant accused the government of disrespecting the Maltese and Gozitan people, and insisted the people were looking for an accountable, efficient and transparent government.
Referring to last week’s resignation of former ambassador to Ireland Richard Muscat, Dr Sant said the government was failing to give a serious impression. While the opposition had been careful to avoid invoking the private and familial affairs of the former ambassador when the scandal had broken, the government had instead stooped to mentioning the particular circumstances of Mr Muscat’s son in relation to the case.
He explained that when the opposition had, a week ago, spoken of Mr Muscat’s resignation in relation to Irish police investigations over whether diplomatic immunity had been invoked and whether the government had been aware of the situation, it had done so because it had the duty and right to ask such questions since the matters had damaged Malta’s reputation in Ireland, as well as the way in which Mr Muscat’s resignation had been portrayed in the Irish media.
Turning to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Dr Sant accused the government of manipulation of the editorial board, which is meant to view and approve programmes in line with public interest criteria.
Despite this, Dr Sant said, the decisions of the board, led by John Camilleri, were not only ignored but contradicted by insiders pushing their own interests. Dr Sant questioned why the case had not led to resignations or, at least, explanations. He added that watching PBS news and discussion themes, one sees a strategy of manipulation aimed at making the government look better and at the opposition either being ignored or not given importance.