The contractor handling the paving works at Dock 1 in Cospicua had been ordered “several times” to fall in line with the law on health and safety, the Infrastructure Ministry said yesterday in response to Labour criticism over the issue.

The ministry said the health and safety authority had ordered the contractor, Marinelli Spa, to put up fencing around the construction site, to stop the works for a while and seal off the site from the surrounding area.

The contractor had complied and was still buying more steel fences to continue securing the area.

The government fully supported the authority in giving these instructions and project managers working with the Grand Harbour Regeneration Project, which is overseeing the works, were closely following the situation, the ministry said.

The lack of safety on the site was highlighted by the Labour Party in a press conference yesterday. Local governance spokesman Stefan Buontempo said the government was responsible for the inconvenience to residents and the injuries that had occurred on the dangerous site.

The ministry, however, pointed out that over the past few weeks, plastic barriers and metal fences were being moved out of place after the workers left the site, sometimes by people wanting to park their cars. The contractor had reported this matter to the police several times.

It said the Labour Party was more interested in pointing fingers, just two days before the village feast, and to slam a project that would bring positive change to the whole area.

Also, Dr Buontempo was worried that the participants of the regatta, which takes place today, would not be able to take their boats down to the water.

“It seems that he doesn’t have all the information in hand as temporary works were carried out over the past two days to allow the Regatta Club to lower its boats safely,” the ministry said.