Contractors responsible for building Mater Dei Hospital cited ignorance of an inquiry report when declining to reply to questions about defective concrete.

Contacted yesterday, representatives of Skanska, the Swedish construction company, Devlands, a Maltese partner in the consortium, and Magħtab Construction, a supplier of concrete, said they had still to see the report.

Skanska spokesman Edvard Lind said the company took such matters seriously and had agreed to meet the Health Minister.

Repeated attempts to contact Sebastian Dalli, of Mixer Limited, the company primarily responsible for the supply of concrete in the first half of 1996, proved futile. Mr Dalli is former PN minister John Dalli’s brother and became involved as a subcontractor in the Mater Dei project, then known as San Raffaele, in January 1996.

A phone call to the offices of Blokrete, a partner in the consortium, was not returned by the time of writing.

The inquiry, headed by retired judge Philip Sciberras, found that most concrete placed in columns between February and May 1996 was provided by Mixer but Magħtab Construction, Blokrete and Devlands had also supplied concrete and concrete-based materials to the construction site.

“It cannot be ascertained with certainty that all concrete placed in the columns of areas D1.1 and D1.3 [the accident and emergency block] originated from one supplier,” the report said.

In a scathing conclusion, the inquiry insisted that Skanska was ultimately responsible to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.

“The board feels it is shameful that a contractor of international repute, fame and stature such as Skanska International could default so comprehensively in its quality assurance and oversight and possibly participated in fraudulent activity.”

Below are the telephone conversations Times of Malta had with the three companies who answered the call.

Skanska, Edvard Lind, head of media relations

TOM: What is Skanska’s reaction to the inquiry report?

It is shameful that a contractor of international repute, fame and stature such as Skanska International could default so comprehensively in its quality assurance and oversight

Lind: We cannot comment because we have not seen the report yet. What we know is what we read through newspapers... We have received a letter from the minister and we agreed to meet but no date has been set yet.

TOM: Was Skanska in any way aware of the weak concrete used in the project?

Lind: No. This is a project that happened some 10 years ago and we don’t have that many people working in the company who were involved back then.

TOM: Are you aware that the report has now been passed on to the Police Commissioner for investigation over alleged fraudulent behaviour?

Lind: We take this very seriously. We have high ethical standards for everything we do and claims of fraudulent behaviour are, of course, something we take very seriously but we need to be able to see the report to comment on these claims.

Magħtab Construction, Dennis Baldacchino, director

TOM: Your company has been mentioned in the Sciberras inquiry. What is your reaction?

Baldacchino: I will only be able to answer you when I have the report in hand. I do not have the report and do not know what it contains and I know nothing.

Up to this day, June 3, nobody came to speak to me. I know nothing. How can I react to the report when nobody has spoken to me?

TOM: But Magħtab Construction had supplied concrete to the hospital project.

Baldacchino: That is what you are saying and what the news are saying. I am not interested in what the news say.

TOM: I am quoting the report.

Baldacchino: But I did not see the report and I do not know what it contains.

TOM: Did you supply concrete to the hospital?

Baldacchino: Aren’t you speaking to me about the report? I did not see it.

TOM: I am asking you something else now. I believe you know what projects you were involved in.

Baldacchino: Can I tell you I cannot answer you?

Devlands, Martin Deguara, director

TOM: I’d like your reaction to the inquiry report.

Deguara: I am abroad and don’t know what has been happening.

TOM: Is there someone else from the company who can speak to me?

Deguara: I don’t think so.

TOM: You are aware that the report on Mater Dei has been published.

Deguara: I have heard that it is out by I haven’t read it. I am abroad and I have to read it to know what it contains.

TOM: It is a report about defective concrete at the hospital.

Deguara: How can I answer you if I haven’t seen anything? I am abroad and when I come back I will read it and may be in a position to speak.