The government was this afternoon urged to suspend public contracts involving contractors mentioned in the Mater Dei inquiry report on poor quality concrete.

The call was made during a press conference addressed by shadow ministers Claudette Buttigieg and Claudio Grech.

Ms Buttigieg said the government was more intent on throwing mud than uncovering the whole truth.

She observed that Health Minister Konrad Mizzi in his statements yesterday failed to mention how the inquiry report clearly implicated former minister John Dalli as the one responsible for the Cost Plus agreement with Skanska. The inquiry report also showed that all subcontractors were engaged through him.

The government and the inquiry report by Judge Sciberras had also failed to publish a report prepared at the time of the Sant administration when the then Labour government decided to raise the capacity of the hospital and sought to add two new floors.

Ms Buttigieg observed that Mixer Ltd, in which John Dalli’s brother Bastjan was involved, was responsible for most of the concrete laid at the hospital in the first part of 1996. The people responsible were known and should be prosecuted.

Claudio Grech, shadow minister for economic affairs, said the government should move immediately to recoup money and stop any contracts in which companies mentioned in the inquiry report were involved.

Ms Buttigieg reiterated a call by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil yesterday for action to be taken against anyone involved in wrongdoing.The police, he said, should act fast.

In this matter, both political parties should be on the taxpayers’ side and taxpayers should not shoulder the cost of damages. 

Mr Grech said he would have expected contractors who were responsible for the supply of concrete to be interviewed by the Board of Inquiry. Former health Minister Joe Cassar, mentioned yesterday, should also have been questioned.

Asked whether action should also be taken against people like former health minister Louis Galea who appeared to have been informed of bad workmanship, Ms Buttigieg said every politician depended on technical advise given by experts. The politician may have been misled. However she was not there to defend anyone.