It seems that Marc Bonello (chairman of the Malta Maritime Authority) sees no conflict of interest if his firm TBA Periti by coincidence files a joint tender with CMC LTD, one of MMA's contractors at that time and up till today. The tender was submitted to the same authority to which Dr Bonello was vice-chairman and chairman of tendering committees. Of all the architectural firms in Malta, TBA choose CMC as its partners. Did CMC think it will have an advantage over the rest of the other tenderers if it files it submission with the vice-chairman's firm? Did TBA Periti think it will have an advantage over the rest having as one of its partners the vice-chairman of the MMA and chairman of the tendering committee?
Notwithstanding, the warning by Anglu Farrugia in Parliament to Dr Bonello regarding his conflict of interest in connection with the submission by TBA Periti and CMC Ltd for the Deep Water Quay tender (The Malta Independent, April 17, 2000) still TBA Periti and CMC saw it fit to file another submission for the same tender in 2001 when Dr Bonello was chairman and, hence, responsible for all capital projects including the Deep Water Quay.
The advert in the newspaper followed months of preparations by the capital projects department. The minutes of the project committee show clearly that since September 1999 the CPD was working on the documentation necessary for the issue of the tender including projected estimates of works in order to adjudicate the submissions. Dr Bonello was present at all these meetings and surely aware of all details.
It seems that now Dr Bonello is for the first time arguing that even the second tender of 2001 was filed by his partner only and not on behalf of TBA Periti. Was the TBA Periti letterhead also used in this case as was in the first tender and was Dr Bonello's CV also part of the tender package?
There is a strange pattern in both tenders: first Dr Bonello is involved in the preparation of the tender, then TBA Periti and CMC Ltd file the submission, then Dr Bonello, after the opening of submissions, reveals to the MMA board that he has a conflict of interest in the tender and TBA Periti and CMC Ltd, having no support from their partner, decide to withdraw their tender.
How many other tenders or consultancies were TBA Periti involved in during Dr Bonello's tenure of office as vice-chairman and chairman with the MMA? If TBA Periti applied twice for the same tender, surely there are other tenders for which TBA applied at least once.
Dr Bonello knows very well that at least two weeks ago upon his request he asked that the sitting of the industrial tribunal be postponed. In fact, the sitting is now scheduled for July 26.
I am sure that Minister Censu Galea recalls that he has a permanent secretary at his ministry with the name Anthony Pavia. At least the director of contracts recalled under oath of having spoken to the permanent secretary informing him of the first tender and requesting him to take action and investigate. Did Mr Pavia do anything? Or did the permanent secretary decided to remain passive, being aware of the fact that Dr Bonello was to become chairman of the MMA in a month's time and that this would have distrupted the minister's coronation ceremony?
Finally, I would like to raise two points. One, that the meeting with the minister did not take place only because he is abroad and, secondly, I have been speaking outside Parliament.
Dr Herrera is a Labour MP.