MHRA laments paving delay

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has expressed its dismay that the paving slabs for Merchants Street, Valletta, have not even been ordered due to the "bureaucratic tendering process".

"Besides the hardship and loss of revenue it is causing to the business community in the area, it is causing irreparable damage to the tourism sector and the economy of the island," it said.

The MHRA also lamented the fact that after months of public consultation and meetings the promised construction management regulations have still not been issued.

"These were supposed to come into force this summer. The unregulated construction throughout the island, and in some cases abusive attitude and delays by contractors, is causing immeasurable harm to the tourism industry," it said.

The MHRA called on the government to publish the proposed construction management legislation in order to check the serious abuses that go on in the construction industry to the determent of both locals and visitors.

It said the government also needs to ensure that the competent authorities have the proper level of manpower to enforce regulations and offenders are brought to book.