This morning's unfortunate construction accident shows how the construction industry is rife with systemic and fundamental deficiencies that must be addressed without further delay, the Chamber of Architects said in a statement.

The Chamber was reacting to a construction site accident on Thursday morning which left a 32-year-old Gambian worker lifeless among the rubble of a ruined wall, while sending his 35-year-old Maltese colleague off to Mater Dei Hospital where he is suffering from grievous injuries.

This is the second accident of its kind this year, following the tragic incident in Hamrun that cost the life of 54-year-old Miriam Pace.

"While the Kamra tal-Periti is fully cognisant of Government's efforts in the past months to draft legislation that will bring about the much needed changes, it is evident that the lack of focus and resources is severely hampering progress in this respect," the statement read.

"This situation is no longer tenable. Further delay is not an option," the Chamber stated. "It is unacceptable that a country which aspires to portray itself as 'the best in Europe' remains complacent to these tragedies which have become all too common."

The Chamber believes that Malta deserves better and appealed for the Prime Minister Robert Abela and the Ministers responsible for the industry to fulfil the government's commitments of last August without further delay.

Read more: Chamber of Architects proposes reform of construction industry

The proposals were then presented to the European Commission and the Opposition, as well as to the government which, through a Letter of Commitment issued in August 2019, finally recognised the need for a comprehensive reform of the building and construction industry, and committed itself to implement the Chamber's proposals. 

the Chamber published the final version of its proposals in June, which was positively received by the industry.<

Last week, The Malta Independent asked Chamber President Simone Vella Lenicker if she thinks that these proposals are falling on deaf ears. 

She said that the issue relates more to a resistance to implement certain drastic changes because there is a general lack of foresight due to a lack of technical understanding on what needs to be done to truly address the problems