Paving the way

Public Works employees may have the reputation of dedicating too much time to their thermos and lunchbox, but Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit and his Labour counterpart Charles Buhagiar defend these workers with Ariadne Massa and insist it's just a myth.

Ninu Zammit

As a young man, the worst risk I took while at work was...

When I went up in a concrete bucket, operated by a hoist, the whole height of the main chimney of the Delimara power station to inspect its construction process. It's in my nature to want to know every detail of everything that's going on. The construction of the power station is one of the biggest achievements in my life because it meant that our country was ready to face the challenges of the future.

Did you own a carpenter's set as a boy? What did you build?

Yes, I owned one. I built a small cart, commonly known in Maltese as a karru.

Has your car ever stopped in the flooded roads?

Fortunately not. However, I was instrumental in initiating flood relief projects, such as that in Marsa/Qormi, which have helped to alleviate the problem.

Greenery or paving?

A mixture of both, depending on the location and the use of the area in question. The embellishment projects implemented during the last five years clearly demonstrate this. One particular project that clearly shows the balance between pedestrianisation and greenery is Ġnien Kottonera, Cospicua. Today, this recreational park is a safe haven and is popular with visitors and residents alike.

My favourite paved square in Europe is...

The square in front of the Vatican, in Rome.

Public Works employees dedicate too much time to their Thermos and lunchbox: Truth or myth?

Myth. When motivated, Public Works employees do deliver projects of a high standard. This can easily be witnessed through the more than 125 embellishment and restoration projects carried out over the last five years. These are proof that the reorganisation and investment in adequate tools and machinery reaped results - the Lower and Upper Barrakka gardens, the Mall Garden, the Merchants Street paving project and the transformation of an archaeological park at Xarolla in Żurrieq, to name a few.

Do you always wear a hard hat when you enter a construction site?

Not always but when there are cranes in operation I won't go on site without a hard hat.

Why do projects take forever to be completed?

It depends. When problems arise due to archeological finds, which is what happened in Mdina and the Marsa watercourse, it throws things out of sync. Delays can also crop up due to unforseen problems related to the supply/ importation of materials, which is what happened in the case of the Merchants Street paving project. However, in this case, despite the technical problems, the project was completed ahead of schedule.

What's the worst case of dumping that you have ever witnessed.

Animal carcasses in the countryside.

The one act of vandalism which made my blood boil was when...

Somebody threw spent oil on buildings of an archaeological or historical wealth.

Charles Buhagiar

As a young man, the worst risk I took while at work was...

Just after I graduated as an architect and I had gone to inspect a construction site in Siġġiewi - I fell down one floor and plummeted through a shaft. Luckily, I landed on a pile of sand and the only consequence was that I was covered in dust.

Did you own a carpenter's set as a boy? What did you build?

No. However, as a family we used to spend our summer holidays in Birżebbuġa and whenever I got together with my friends we spent hours building small rooms with the stones we found in the fields.

Has your car ever stopped in the flooded roads?

No, but my house in Attard has been flooded on various occasions because a huge volume of rainwater flows down our street.

Greenery or paving?

It depends. Greenery looks beautiful on plan but unless the property is maintained it ends up being merely an area of barren soil, full of rubbish. In urban areas, which are heavily populated, paving requires less maintenance.

My favourite paved square in Europe is...

The Graben, which is in the heart of the commercial area of Vienna, Austria.

Public Works employees dedicate too much time to their Thermos and lunchbox: Truth or myth?

Myth. Public Works employees do work and produce good quality results within reasonable time frames, provided they are well motivated. The best example of this is the embellishment project in Buġibba.

Do you always wear a hard hat when you enter a construction site?

If there are cranes working overhead on a construction site and there is the danger of falling objects then I always make sure I wear a hard hat.

Why do projects take forever to be completed?

Projects do not take forever. However, unless they are well planned it is impossible to correctly estimate the length of time needed to complete the project. It is important that, before any works begin, the unknown factors are reduced as much as possible through proper site investigation, coordination of services and works with other entities and the preparation of detailed drawings.

What's the worst case of dumping that you have ever witnessed?

I was recently disgusted when I noticed that the valley under the aqueduct in Peter Paul Rubens Street, Attard, had been filled with rubble to enable the planting of trees. This was probably done on the order of some government department. Consequently, the lower part of the aqueduct, running from Rabat to Mrieħel, has been buried in debris.

The one act of vandalism, which made my blood boil was...

Some of our historical monuments are completely neglected, such as the bastions surrounding Fort Ricasoli, which are literally falling into the sea. Other frustrating acts of vandalism include the destruction of swings in playgrounds.