Sant smells 'strong whiff of corruption' in Manwel Dimech bridge project

Opposition leader Alfred Sant has called on the Prime Minister to investigate goings on in the Manwel Dimech Bridge project, saying there was "a strong whiff of institutional corruption."

Speaking in Parliament during the adjournment, Dr Sant said it was unacceptable that the completion date was repeatedly being changed and costs continued to soar. It was also unacceptable that the architects' firm which was auditing the works shared the same professional office as Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett.

Dr Sant said a full and clear account needed to be given of how funds were being spent. Would penalties be charged for late completion of works? Was it true that the auditing architects would end up receiving twice as much as originally projected?

This, Dr Sant said, was a project costing millions of liri. A ministerial spokesman had originally said work would be concluded in March. Then it was said that the contractors were giving a May date.

Clearly, attempts were being made to manipulate public opinion, with an election possibly to be held around that time.

Dr Sant said that unless the Prime Minister conducted a proper investigation, people would end up thinking it would be better to be corrupt to move forward. This would ultimately be detrimental to public morality and harmful to the economy.