The road rebuilding programme on the Burmarrad to Targa Gap and Salini to T'Alla w Ommu roads has been a farce and an unwarranted major embarrassment to this government.

The sad excuse given by this particular contractor, that he could not find enough workmen to complete this job, is pathetic and should be noted when future contracts are awarded, as any responsible contractor knows that if you take on such a project, let alone two simultaneously, you must ensure that your firm has got the appropriate manpower as well as tools to carry out the works in the stipulated time before taking on the works.

To make matters worse, the contractor commenced or was asked to commence work on two major roads, either of which could have served as an alternative relief route while the other is being constructed. Other contractors, such as the firm which is building the new roads adjoining the Mater Dei Hospital in the Swatar area, seem to have had no problems finding enough workers; and works seem to be on schedule. Why then is this particular contractor facing a labour shortage?

The sad part of this story will always remain that, when these works are completed, the contractor will end up with a healthier bank balance irrespective of the fact that his bad planning has inconvenienced thousands upon thousands of tax-paying motorists.

The one and only happy note that came out of this farce is that the owners of the Trattoria Fiorino d'Oro, situated at Salini, were awarded Lm20,000 - and rightly so - for the loss of business.

The only regret is that this payment, which is just and well-deserved, is not being deducted from the contractors' fees, but paid for from our hard-earned taxes.

It was refreshing to read the cautionary note, late as it is, from the minister concerned, warning contractors that "stricter measures need to be taken to bind contractors to specific deadlines, and that if questions are to be made, they must be made at the tendering stage".

Let us hope words will, in future, be translated into action.