The concrete structures of two apartment blocks in Mtarfa which house some 80 families and which were purchased from the Housing Authority are weak, a report issued by Arup – the same company which was tasked to conduct a report on the Mater Dei weak concrete – has found.

The buildings were developed between 1994 and 1996. The apartments are blocks A and B in Binja Buqana, Mtarfa.

Addressing the media at his ministry in Valletta, Family Minister Michael Farrugia said that reports had been made on the structural problems back in 2000 and the Housing Authority had asked the architects concerned whether the structures were safe. He said that back then, the architects concerned had assured the authority the buildings were safe.

But now, he said, it results that the buildings are fast deteriorating but emphasised that there is no reason for alarm.

He explained that the ministry is not responsible for the structural damages since the units had been purchased from the Housing Authority by families a few years ago but assured the residents of these apartment blocks that the  government will be supporting them and they won’t be left alone to deal with the issue. The costs to repair the damages would reach some 2.5 million euros, he said.

Asked by this newsroom whether this meant that the government will be supporting these families financially to help fund the damages, he said that his ministry will be following up on the Arup report and what needs to be done will be done but did not elaborate further.

Same inquiry board investigating Mater Dei structure tasked to look into issue

Dr Farrugia said that a board of inquiry has been tasked to delve into the issue further by looking at the time-frames of the complaints which had been filed, among other things which may shed light on who is responsible for all this. He said that the government would also be seeking legal advice and if it is determined who is responsible, the police would also be roped in.

Asked whether it is retired judge and Labour MP Philip Sciberras who has been tasked to lead the inquiry, he replied in the affirmative.

Judge Sciberras is the same person who led the Mater Dei concrete independent inquiry and has also been tasked to widen his investigation into Mater Dei's structures. This newsroom reported that Judge Sciberras has a conflicting role since he sits on a St Vincent de Paul board and is on the public payroll while being tasked to lead independent inquiries.

When asked to comment on the criticism which has been made on the fact that the retired judge has a conflicting role, Dr Farrugia said that Judge Sciberras’s role is not conflicting and he is a credible and respected person.

“When he was judge, he always acted in an impartial manner and never took any sides, even when it came to libel cases.

“I do not base my decisions on criticism made but on the respect of such persons.

“I have no doubt that Judge Sciberras deals with inquiries in the same way he dealt with things when he was judge – in a fair manner; he has a good track record, the minister said.

Emergency measures taken

Dr Farrugia said that engineers lifted a number of samples and it resulted that the structural problems range from weak pillars to weak beams. The balconies and ceilings of the apartment blocks also have stuctural damage, he added.

He said that investigations will also be made to ensure that other properties in other localities which belong to the Housing Authority are safe to live in.