The government is not excluding blacklisting the construction companies involved in the concrete scandal at Mater Dei Hospital.
Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said the government would be seeking the Attorney General’s advice about the matter and would abide by his recommendations.
Addressing the press at the hospital’s reception hall, surrounded by nurses and health professionals, Mr Fearne said he wanted to “show solidarity” with Mater Dei staff who “are passing through a difficult time”.
According to the inquiry, headed by retired judge Philip Sciberras, the companies involved in the Skanska JV consortium – Blokrete, Mixer Ltd, Devlands and Tal-Magħtab Construction – had in some way provided concrete below the standard listed in the specifications.
The conclusions have now been passed to the police and the Attorney General to decide whether to proceed with criminal action.
The conclusions have now been passed to the police and the AG to decide whether to proceed with criminal action
Giving a timeline of the necessary reinforcement works, Mr Fearne said the first €5 million project would involve the Accident and Emergency Department.
Another project, costing €35 million, will follow to correct the lower grade concrete across the entire hospital structure. Mr Fearne said tenders would be issued to find contractors to do this work next year.
Specifically asked to say whether the companies involved in the concrete scam would also be given the possibility to tender for these jobs, Mr Fearne said the government would act on the Attorney General’s advice.
He replied in the same fashion when asked whether the government would be suing the companies involved to recoup the extra costs.
Reacting, the Nationalist Party accused Mr Fearne of trying to defend “at all costs” the companies involved in the supply of lower grade concrete due to their close links to the Labour Party.
In a statement, the PN said one of the companies was owned by the brother of the Prime Minister’s former consultant and another had built the Labour Party headquarters in Ħamrun.
The PN urged the government to ensure legal action was taken against the companies involved to protect the interests of the taxpayers.
The Nationalist Party has accused Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne (centre) of trying to defend “at all costs” the companies involved in supplying lower grade concrete because of their links to Labour. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina