In reaction to a media statement by the Labour Party regarding the Merchants Street paving project, the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry has issued a counter-statement to what it referred as Labour leader Alfred Sant’s “untruthful and unfounded allegations”.
The ministry said that in a statement issued on 18 May, it had said that the areas that would be resurfaced and paved would be Merchants Street, the area outside St John’s co-Cathedral and St George Square, covering an area of more than 12,000 square metres.
The first phase of the project that is currently underway, covers the stretch along Merchants Street that links Archbishop Street to South Street, the square outside the historic Valletta market, St Lucy Street, St John Street and St John Square.
The project also includes work on the lava pavements in Triq Felic and Old Theatre Street, which are currently being repaired, the installation of new lighting systems on the facades of historic buildings and restoration of the facades of Monte Di Pieta’ and the Public Registry, as well as one of the sides of St John’s Co-Cathedral.
The ministry said it was an outright lie to say that the paving project was currently at a standstill due to the fact that the pavement in Triq Felic was being repaired and some manholes were being changed.
Rather, said the ministry, the truth was that roadworks were carried out at such a fast pace that they were completed two months before expected.
The original plan, which was agreed upon with owners of commercial outlets through the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU), was for the paving process to begin in mid-October, said the ministry.
The ministry said it was doing its best to meet deadlines and possibly even complete the project before the pre-established nine-month period was over, even though the tender adjudication process was delayed due to a problem with specifications that cropped up along the way.
The ministry went on to speak about the Labour government’s incompetence when it carried out the Republic Street paving project during its 22-month term in government. It said the project was completely disorganised and was carried out in an amateurish manner.
The Republic Street paving project, which was completed over a nine-month period, had cost about Lm280,000 / EUR652,224 and this only included paving about 3,559 square metres, said the ministry, adding that this contrasted strongly with the current government’s project in different parts of the capital.
In its statement, the ministry said the implementation of this project bore witness to the heavy investment in the best interest of not only the capital city, but the country as a whole.