Updated: Contractor carrying out repair works to St Paul's Bay promenade - MTA
The contractor who carried out embellishment works on the St Paul’s Bay promenade has already been informed of ‘damage’ in the works and will be carrying out the necessary repairs, the Malta Tourism Authority said.
In a statement this morning, the Labour Party’s St Paul’s Bay sectional committee and councillors said that holes have started to appear along and beyond a long stretch of the paving.
The project, co-financed through European Union Structural Funds, was inaugurated on September 6.
The committee and councillors said the damages were appearing in spite of the fact that the completed works have been certified by the competent authorities.
They said that besides the holes, rust was also covering part of the railings.
In a reply, the MTA said the 'damage' brought to the public's attention consisted of minor blemishes in two or three particular spots.
“The damage being referred to may well be deemed to be minor, seeing as the embellished promenade is over a kilometre in length,” it said.
The MTA said that this notwithstanding, the bars and slabs in question had already been noted by the authority.
“The small blemishes probably became noticeable after a few storms and heavy showers.
“The completed works are still considered to be in a probationary (defects liability) period, with the contractor in question still liable to replace and/or repair any unsatisfactory items.
“A part of the full payment due to the contractor is retained as a guarantee in this respect. The contractor was already informed of these issues and will be making the necessary repairs forthwith.”
The MTA said that the architects in charge have already prepared a ‘snag list’ and are monitoring the contractor to ensure that these snags are rectified. This period may extend for more than a year after the project has been completed.
It said that a provisional acceptance certificate will only be issued once the architects are satisfied that these snags have been remedied.
Moreover, there is a specific guarantee that extended beyond the defects liability period and any latent defects appearing in future would still be required to be rectified by the contractor.
A final acceptance certificate will only be issued after five years from the issuing of the provisional acceptance certificate.
In their statements, the PL councillors and committee members stated that there was a lack of maintenance.
But the MTA said this was not the case since the contractor has not only been carrying out remedial works, as instructed, but has also carried out numerous repair interventions to damage inflicted through vandalism – particularly in the projecting balcony area.
The conditions involving EU Structural Funds stipulate that maintenance works for such a project must be guaranteed for a period of five years.
The St Paul's Bay council shall be assuming this responsibility once the project is completed, with the assistance of the MTA.
“The MTA has always strived to ensure that all such projects undertaken by the authority are maintained to be best possible standards. Recent and past experience in this regard is ample evidence of this fact,” it said.
The contractor who carried out embellishment works on the St Paul’s Bay promenade has already been informed of ‘damage’ in the works and will be carrying out the necessary repairs, the Malta Tourism Authority said.
In a statement this morning, the Labour Party’s St Paul’s Bay sectional committee and councillors said that holes have started to appear along and beyond a long stretch of the paving.
The project, co-financed through European Union Structural Funds, was inaugurated on September 6.
The committee and councillors said the damages were appearing in spite of the fact that the completed works have been certified by the competent authorities.
They said that besides the holes, rust was also covering part of the railings.
In a reply, the MTA said the 'damage' brought to the public's attention consisted of minor blemishes in two or three particular spots.
“The damage being referred to may well be deemed to be minor, seeing as the embellished promenade is over a kilometre in length,” it said.
The MTA said that this notwithstanding, the bars and slabs in question had already been noted by the authority.
“The small blemishes probably became noticeable after a few storms and heavy showers.
“The completed works are still considered to be in a probationary (defects liability) period, with the contractor in question still liable to replace and/or repair any unsatisfactory items.
“A part of the full payment due to the contractor is retained as a guarantee in this respect. The contractor was already informed of these issues and will be making the necessary repairs forthwith.”
The MTA said that the architects in charge have already prepared a ‘snag list’ and are monitoring the contractor to ensure that these snags are rectified. This period may extend for more than a year after the project has been completed.
It said that a provisional acceptance certificate will only be issued once the architects are satisfied that these snags have been remedied.
Moreover, there is a specific guarantee that extended beyond the defects liability period and any latent defects appearing in future would still be required to be rectified by the contractor.
A final acceptance certificate will only be issued after five years from the issuing of the provisional acceptance certificate.
In their statements, the PL councillors and committee members stated that there was a lack of maintenance.
But the MTA said this was not the case since the contractor has not only been carrying out remedial works, as instructed, but has also carried out numerous repair interventions to damage inflicted through vandalism – particularly in the projecting balcony area.
The conditions involving EU Structural Funds stipulate that maintenance works for such a project must be guaranteed for a period of five years.
The St Paul's Bay council shall be assuming this responsibility once the project is completed, with the assistance of the MTA.
“The MTA has always strived to ensure that all such projects undertaken by the authority are maintained to be best possible standards. Recent and past experience in this regard is ample evidence of this fact,” it said.
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Peter Gatt
Nov 28th 2011, 09:22
The photo of the limestone paving attached to this article clearly shows that the quality of the selected limestone is inappropriate for paving although it resembles rock that is normally used for paving in Malta.
When such blunders occur the taxpaying public may want to ask whether the advice of a geologist (the expert on stone) was sought during the selection process of the quarried limestone? Unlikely that this happened.
Moreover, what do architects know about rock or stone? Not more than the average man in the street, yet the authorities keep asking their advice on matters that are beyond their competence. The result of this is seen in the photo.
Saviour M Garzia
Nov 27th 2011, 17:35
“The damage being referred to may well be deemed to be minor, seeing as the embellished promenade is over a kilometre in length,” MTA said.
“The small blemishes probably became noticeable after a few storms and heavy showers''
The criticism here is not about the amount of damage but rather that in 2 months this project is already showing signs that works were faulty.This is what all should be concerned and take into account. Blaming weather conditions impress no one and shows in what a pathetic state some of our public entities have turned themselves.
Mr Savio Camilleri
Nov 27th 2011, 09:25
SPB local council is lacking big time... example is that in sand street, they have drawn up the yellow lines where there is no need and the white lines are much bigger, thus we lack parking space.
Bernard Storace
Nov 27th 2011, 08:31
Well done and a big prosit to the competent authorities who gave the thumbs up when the works were completed. And a big thank you to the few storms and heavy showers without whose help all the blemishes, rot and bad workmanship would have gone unnoticed. And thank you to the architects who have drawn up a snag list for the contractor to see to within the coming year. Well done all round....thanks Gov.
Gordon Borg
Nov 27th 2011, 07:18
Here in malta its getting a habit always opting for cheap qotations.Arriva is a case in point-cheaper tender.
Ms ANNA GRECH
Nov 27th 2011, 07:16
Wakey wakey Ms Mayor high time you had a good look around and see what's happening in St Paul's Bay. We had to put up with these works right through the summer and yet never a word of apology from the authorities regarding the inconvenience. To add insult to injury when the project was officially opened on Sept 6th (of course, Ms mayor was present!!) we were ordered off the beach as the "big shots" were coming!!! This was the "thank you" we got for having endured months of this building site. When is Ms Mayor and her council going to realise that St Paul's Bay is for the Pawlini too!!! A word of appreciation, from the authorities, on the other hand, would have eased the aggravation of months and months of dust, dirt and the lot.
Dennis Zammit
Nov 27th 2011, 06:49
On seeing the image of the railings, one question immediately comes to my mind . . . How can these works have been planned and approved when the quality of railings just by the seaside are NOT GALVANIZED and properly protected against the severe elements?
There are various methods of protection from the galvanizing process (and quality) to the paint system used. Through experience, the Govt. normally goes for the CHEAPEST price in the tendering phase and therefore, normally opts for the TEMPORARY cosmetic (nice) colour just for a few weeks WITHOUT caring for the actual protection of the INVESTMENT.
Pity !
After spending so much money and time and inconvenience to the public, the public cannot really enjoy the benefits for a long time . . . more than a few weeks!
PS. The Sliema promenade going towards Tigne from Tower road is in a WORSE state. Same mentality of works.
Alfred Cassar
Nov 26th 2011, 21:38
Make the contractor repair the damage and NEVER, I repeat NEVER give him another job to do. That's what we all do after all
Francis Farrugia
Nov 26th 2011, 19:57
Wath both political parties rep. and local council members have not seen, is, that we, the elderly living in VECCJA area have been asking for a zebra crossing somewhere by TAL-KARMNU Chapel for years and years and nothing has materialised. Letters have been sent to the council, to ADT AND TO MALTA TRANSPORT but all have been ignored. Now, that works are progressing at a fast pace on the new local council premises, we hope that we get a zebra crossing near the new council premises maybe before the inauguration
R. Cilia
Nov 26th 2011, 19:22
Make them replace what is damaged. If they won't, name them and shame them.
Paul Caruana
Nov 26th 2011, 19:13
Presumably the original contractor is liable to repair any substandard workmanship at his own expense.
Saviour Cachia
Nov 26th 2011, 18:59
Once I wrote a letter in the Malta Times about a hole as tiny as a needle that was left when the roads where I live (Marsascala) were tarmacked. I remember the title I chose was " A stitch in time saves nine". Today that hole at least is something like 10 centimetres wide. Not far away is the time, when the road will cede under the pressure of different vehicles that use the area. Ok the contractors nowadays are liable to do the work almost all over again. But the case of the embellishment of the promenade of St. Paul's Bay proves that work cannot be done, like we used to say in Maltese "tad-daqqa u mmorru". Millions are being spent on such projects and Malta's deficit is not the type that put our mind at rest.
C Galea
Nov 26th 2011, 18:32
Can`t believe this .Who has certified the works and the material used??
C Cassar
Nov 26th 2011, 17:58
This is typical Maltese quality (or complete lack of) work. Time after time, local workers haven't got a clue about the correct way to prepare for a job or continue any kind of maintenance. On top of that we have authorties checking the work who also haven't got a clue about quality work and how to check corners haven't been cut.
Sorry but all of these works should be awarderd to those from other parts of the EU where this state of affairs simply would not be acceptable.
John Attard
Nov 26th 2011, 18:51
Whilst jotting pen to paper i am assuming you have a wide ranging experience with foreign companies who provide state of the art services. The Maltese worker is very talented, much more then a foreigner and you should be ashamed to even jot down otherwise. From another aspect the labour representatives at St PAul s Bay are always on the look out for such issues. Instead of giving a helping hand in a locality that could be a gem, they continue to only look at the bad side of the picture......... issa qed nistenna hafna kummenti fuq l-Aquarium ukoll ta........iz zmien itina parir izda min ifixkel il-pajjiz m ghandhux x jambih! Il -kultura li naghti flok niehu ghat trid tinhema f'dawn il -kunsilliera kollha gejjin min fejn gejjin......X sahta iggib maghha l -politika fil -lokalita......tal-biza!
C Cassar
Nov 27th 2011, 00:50
Quality of works in Malta are terrible and this article proves that point. Take a look at similar works being carried out in nearly any other EU countryand you will see the gulf in difference between the standard performed.
If you've travelled to other parts of Europe this will be clear. If you haven't then you have no comaprison to make a valid judgment.
Take a look at the Sliemam promenade. The blocks layed haven't been put on a professionally prepared base and hence they are already uneven. Take a look at how the black railings are painted each year. They are never cleaned or stripped before painting. New paint is put on top of the combination of salt & dirt whilst also dripping the black paint onto the cream coloured stonework. All completely amateur.
Neville Gafa'
Nov 27th 2011, 01:34
Lets make it clear once and for all; Labour is 100% in favour of the Aquarium Project. Looking forward to see this much awaited promised project inaugurated.
C Cassar
Nov 27th 2011, 09:40
@Neville Gafa':
what's Labour got to do with this? What's the aquarium project go to do with this? Why do so many come on these threads to spout political comments?
Neville Gafa'
Nov 27th 2011, 17:41
Mr Cassar i was refering to the comment done by Mr. Attard.
wendy isaac
Nov 26th 2011, 17:27
This is a typical Maltese workmanship second rate same as your imports, one should come to Gozo and see how these people work, boy they make more mess after they TRY to do a job then actually improving the place, it wouldn't be so bad if they clear after their mess and do a proper job or at least get some experience d workers then throw backs of europe, take my advice never pay these people out front or you will never see them again.
Billie Watson
Nov 26th 2011, 20:01
Yes we know where you're coming from, we had the same problem and learned the hard way. A while back we had this workman to do a simple job for us, we paid him before the job was done, but then we never seen him again for nearly 4 days, apparently he used our cash to do a job somewhere else in Gozo so i heared, finally he turned up and told us that he had a bad back, but just like you say i have never ever in my life have seen such shabby and messey work in my life, i complained to him that our swimming pool was still covered in dry white grouting, he came over with believe it or not with a tooth brush and thats all to try and clean his mess.
Asta Peterson
Nov 27th 2011, 00:06
Attard.J. @* Sorry but did you say the Maltese are telented, could U elborate a bit more please, talented at what exactly, i suggest you go out more and see Maltese workmanship for yourself then come back and give us your findings in a nutshell, I think most of us Foreign companies know different don't you think, the problem is that the Maltese's downfall is that they just do not like to be criticised at all, and without criticism one just cannot rectify their mistakes oran amateurish way of doing things. its that simply goodbye and thankyou, don't call us we'll call you, but not if we see you first.
Mr mario aquilina
Nov 27th 2011, 21:28
Hey, now that's below the belt.
Do not criticize the Maltese. They are the best at everything or so they think. God's Gift.
Lawrence Fenech
Nov 26th 2011, 17:27
Ahseb u ara il-bankina il-wieghsa tal-Ferries.
r spiteri
Nov 26th 2011, 16:48
il-Labour ghandu vantagg fuq din ghax apparti bicca mill-promenade ta' bugibba ma ghamel l-ebda progett iehor ghal pajjizna. Hlief id-dar tal-hgieg u hafna toroq fil-Mosta mill-aqwa kunsill laburista ta' Malta
V Caruana
Nov 26th 2011, 18:23
Heqq m'hemmx x'tagħmel. Ħadd ma jara ħotobtu għax jaqa u jmut zobtu.
Neil Cutajar
Nov 26th 2011, 21:28
Ghamel progetti fis-South...Ibda mill-promenade shih ta' Birzebbuga
charles tabone
Nov 26th 2011, 16:44
This too demands an accountability stance. Local councils as well as the central government should adopt a maintenance strategy for the appropriate upkeep of any embellishment. It is a pity to see such a waste money going down the drain. This is evident all over the island. We only have to take a look at playgrounds, public conveniences, bus stops etc. with some that are really in a shambles.
John Attard
Nov 26th 2011, 18:46
U issa gejjin bil Green Public Procurment GPP ......ara vera ma nafx ta!
Anthony Caruana
Nov 26th 2011, 16:13
Does the responsible authority not have surveyors to determine whether fit for purpose materials were used? If so it should by now have set in motion the process of assessing if any of the contracting parties and suppliers are under obligation to carry out remidial work.
Terry Tibbs
Nov 26th 2011, 15:58
Also where have the Didabled bays gone @ Sirens ?????
Mario Grima
Nov 26th 2011, 15:43
As usual, half baked projects by the PN. The least they could have done is to make it last until the elction.
R. Gauci
Nov 26th 2011, 17:19
Kollox sabih minn barra imbaghad issib li mnawwar minn gewwa, imma sfortunatament in-nies is-sabih tara mhux it-tajjeb meta tigi biex tivvota.
Angus Black
Nov 27th 2011, 02:45
Yes, just like the road at Bir-id-Deheb leading to Birzebbugia which was built by Labour.
Too bad they built it on soil and after years of patching, had to be completely rebuilt. St. Paul's Bay bypass? Same problems plus cave-ins.
And a few blemishes which will be corrected at the contractor's expense the SPB Labour Party committee raises a stink. Since when have they appointed themselves inspectors?
Halluna, tridux!