Brian St John, former CEO of the Foundation for Medical Services, under fire over the Mater Dei Hospital weak concrete scandal, two years ago asked for a structural review of the emergency department building, this newspaper has learnt.
Documents seen by Times of Malta show that in July 2013, Mr St John asked for two quotes from architectural firm Cassar Grech and Ebejer, which had already been engaged to certify the hospital structure.
The requests were made in connection with plans to build additional storeys over the emergency department. Mr St John asked for a list of professional services required in relation to the project, including “the assessment of the existing underlying structure”. At the time, the Health Ministry, then headed by Godfrey Farrugia, turned down his request, saying the architectural firm had to be chosen through a tendering process.
Eventually, last August, the project was shelved when it was discovered that the emergency department structure could not withstand additional load due to the weak concrete in its foundations. Remedial works to strengthen the weak structure are expected to cost over €30 million.
In recent weeks, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi repeatedly questioned whether Mr St John, who left his post at the FMS in May last year, was aware of these weaknesses and tried to keep the scandal under wraps.
Dr Muscat hinted last Sunday photographic evidence existed of Mr St John, now CEO of the PN media, shredding documents. He had already accused Mr St John of “hiding” a contract signed in February 2009, which exonerated Swedish construction company Skanska from any liability on the hospital building. The contact was found in the FMS safe, Dr Muscat said, though Mr St John denied such claims.
When contacted Mr St John declined to go into details but confirmed making two proposals to the Health Ministry in July 2013, including one on a structural review of the emergency department building.
“I had also recommended engaging the same architects responsible for the structure [Cassar Grech and Ebejer] to safeguard the government’s legal liability over the structure,” Mr St John said.
Asked whether he was aware that Mr St John had ever requested a structural review of the emergency department building, Dr Mizzi said he had no such information.
Correspondence dated August 26, 2013, indicates that Mr St John had cautioned of the possible consequences of commissioning architects other than Cassar Grech and Ebejer.
“I will bet anything that we will receive a letter from Cassar Grech and Ebejer relinquishing their statutory responsibility over Mater Dei Hospital, as soon as we inform them we shall be seeking alternatives routes,” Mr St John had told a ministry official.
Documents seen by this newspaper confirm that the director of engineering at Mater Dei had endorsed the foundation’s proposals to engage Cassar Grech and Ebejer.
Plans for the new wards were rolled out in early 2012 and, by July 2013, the government had managed to secure EU funds for the project.
In April 2014, Mekanika Limited was awarded the tender. Soon after the contract was signed in early May 2014, the foundation raised concerns on certain aspects and complained that it had not been asked to vet it, as was normal practice.
An e-mail sent by Mr St John to Health Ministry senior official Alan Comerford – also seen by this newspaper – shows that the foundation noted that certain aspects were rather “ambiguous” and could work against the government’s interests.
Some of the issues flagged were mistakes in the contractor’s name, missing page numbers and the lack of any commitment by the contractor on the number of personnel to be employed.
The following day, Mr St John announced his resignation. He would not comment on why he left but sources said he had clashed with the ministry over plans to appoint a managing director who would supervise the CEO.
Mr St John had joined the foundation in September 2008.