Labour MP to meet minister over claims

Labour MP José Herrera has once again repeated his allegations of inappropriate behaviour by the Malta Maritime Authority in the case of two tenders.

Speaking to The Times in response to the authority's reply yesterday to his claims, Dr Herrera said the MMA's projects committee did not issue tenders but only monitored them. "It is the Tender Formulation Committee which decides on the award of a tender," he said.

Dr Herrera said the tender for the deep water quay in 2000 was issued by the projects committee which was chaired by the then vice-chairman of the authority, Marc Bonello, now chairman.

"Mr Bonello's claim that the tender was merely an advert or an expression of interest is not correct," Dr Herrera said. "Around 10 people applied for the tender and in the advert the word 'tender' appears," he said.

Dr Herrera said that when the 2001 tender was issued it used the same wording as the 2000 tender. "The 2000 tender process was in the hands of two people. One of them phoned Carmel Chircop, the authority's legal officer and secretary of the tendering board, and told him that one of the applicants was the firm of Marc Bonello. Dr Chircop informed the Director of Contracts, Mr Spiteri, who in turn informed Minister Censu Galea's private secretary, Mr Pavia. The tender process was then stopped," Dr Herrera said. "By some coincidence Dr Chircop was fired a couple of days later."

Dr Herrera said the same problem happened during the second tender. "The MMA chairman again applied for the tender award and then withdrew. Why did he apply again in the light of what had happened after the first tender?" he asked.

"There is evidence given under oath in an industrial tribunal which confirms what I am saying. Today I will be meeting Communications Minister Galea and I will provide him with all the evidence he requires," Dr Herrera said.