Progress in Mdina bastions restoration
Works on the restoration of a section of the Mdina bastions which had been in danger of collapse are now nearing conclusion.
The site was this afternoon visited by Norweigian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas.
The bastions, directly beneath the Xara Palace Hotel and Council Square, are being restored thanks to the granting of €650,000 by the European Economic Area.
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Mark Vella
Oct 28th 2009, 11:51
Dear JDebono,
I do not agree that local projects should be awarded to Maltese, even using 'these hard times' as an excuse. We are in a level field and everyone should be allowed to compete. Why should our government award a contract to someone just because they are Maltese? If foreign firms can offer better quality of work and, possibly, better value for money, then let the best bidder win! This is a healthy process and, if any Maltese want the job, then they should aim to be of equal or better quality than their competitors!
Grouping up with foreigners is also healthy, each party can learn from the other. Refusing to cooperate with foreigners just because we want our investment to run into Maltese hands alone is plain ignorance.
In addition, do you think it is possible to create this 'very extensive workforce' you mention from only Maltese? Will we find the amount of locals willing to perform most of the manual work?
Franco Farrugia
Oct 28th 2009, 11:40
@ JDebono: I still reiterate that you are wrong. Why should only the Maltese work in Malta? Do the Maltese workers work only in Malta? So, we expect to be allowed to work wherever it suits us and on the contrary, we don't allow foreigners to work in Malta and to take part in contract awards!
Sometimes, I really, really think that we are still with that colonialist mentality where we believe that the whole world revolves around us and that we are owed a living! Oh, my!
Paul Grech
Oct 28th 2009, 11:31
@ A Camilleri & P Muscat: I’ve just been following the correspondence hereunder. I doubt how such a small Maltese company which had been engaged in art restoration (your own website) can all of a sudden handle 6 masonry restoration tenders worth all those millions and which have to be completed by 2013. Where is the workforce?
JDebono
Oct 28th 2009, 09:29
Dear Muscat and Dear Camilleri .
....'works shall be carried out by MALTESE restoration professionals, tradesmen & labourers supervised by Italian Experts.'
I have checked website in question...
Unfortunately no details of the very extensive workforce needed is being highlighted. To my knowledge the job was not for the provision only of consultancy & supervision services.!!!!
maquilina
Oct 28th 2009, 09:02
Regardless of what has been said I still fail to understand the need of the joint venture between the Maltese and an Italian specialist restoration cooperative. Does this indicate that the Maltese party's name is not strong enough to win the project or does it indicate that the Maltese Party is trying to hitch a ride on the prospects reaped when an Italian firm is being involved?
One supposes that a Maltese cooperative made up of Maltese professionals graduating from the University of Malta is professional enough to undertake the work as P Muscat rightly remarks.
mike pace
Oct 28th 2009, 07:25
We should push more people to take more notice of historical places that our island offered by first option starts that all schools can be government or private and church one ,dedicated more time visting these gems that our befathers left us and the last that the bread and butter its taken mostly by the Maltese workers first of all.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 27th 2009, 20:56
Why should the PM do a thing like that? After all, the money is coming from Europe, so i think it is only fair that any European company applies to do the work!
A. Camilleri
Oct 27th 2009, 20:51
@JDebono
Dear Sir, I would like to inform you that the works shall be carried out by MALTESE restoration professionals, tradesmen & labourers supervised by Italian Experts. Kindly note that the lots were awarded to Maltese-Italian Joint Ventures.
P Muscat
Oct 27th 2009, 20:01
@JDebono
I must insist that you have been misinformed with regards to the consortia awarded the Valletta and Birgu projects. The two joint ventures are Caravaggio and Confirma respectively each being made up of a Maltese and an Italian specialist restoration cooperative. The Maltese party is represented by ReCoop – The Restoration and Conservation Coop Ltd. ReCoop is a Maltese cooperative made up of Maltese professionals graduating from the University of Malta. For more information kindly visit www.recoop.com.mt
EPMuscat
Oct 27th 2009, 19:24
@JDebono I'm not so sure the PM can do anything about that - in the same way that Gordon Brown cannot do anything about the contracts that Maltese Companies are winning in the UK.
JDebono
Oct 27th 2009, 17:43
Dear Mr. Prime Minister
First and foremost as a Maltese , I pray to all the authorities that all the restoration works will be awarded to MALTESE Companies whome employ MALTESE tradesmen & labourers.
At least in these hard times, all Maltese enjoy his share of the cake by right.
Heqq...... there are rumours that recent awarded jobs for both Valletta 4 lots & Birgu 2 lots Fortifications have been awarded to Italians and in which they are very determined to take all jobs.