The Office of the Ombudsman said that it has carried out an own initiative investigation with regards to “excessive delays in the completion of roadworks in Triq Tumas Cassar, Gharb.”

This followed requests for assistance from residents in the road and was resolved the Office said, after the “direct intervention of the Minister for Gozo and Planning” following a request by the Ombudsman in terms of Art 18(4) of Chapter 385 of the Laws of Malta.

The Office said that tn the summer of 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman received verbal requests for assistance from people residing in Triq Tumas Cassar, Gharb, that due to road works that had been going on for months they were sustaining severe inconvenience including excessive dust related nuisance.

On the 31st of July, the Office made enquiries with the Ministry for Gozo and Planning regarding the works in the road in question. The Office was informed on that same day by the Ministry that the works were being carried out by the Gharb Local Council as the street in question was within its remit.

The Office said that it then obtained a set of five photos of the works and on the 1st August, these went sent to Gharb Local Council as part of a preliminary evaluation to determine the status of the works at issue, in particular the cause of the delay for completion. The Council was also requested to advise the way forward for definitive completion.

On the 8th of August, the Gharb Local Council sent its reply to the Office.

The Office noted that while unequivocally acknowledging the inconvenience sustained by residents, the Council attributed the delay to unforeseen infrastructural challenges, including water and drainage main supplies replacements that required technical investigations, fresh financial estimates and their approval from other authorities.

The Office was also informed that while works were already in progress, other works were commissioned by utilities authorities and consequently the project grew in extent.

The Office went on to say that while highlighting the purpose and value of the project as extended from its originally planned objective, the Council advised the Office that for the project with the additional works to be fully completed, fresh budget estimates had to be submitted, approved and funded by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, a matter that could be finalised by the end of Summer 2025.

On the 11th of August, the Office said it informed the Council that its reply was “not satisfactory because residents in Triq Tumas Cassar had been withstanding unmitigated and severe convenience for months. Despite this undisputed fact, there was in sight no definite, effective and verifiable timeline for completion of the works.”

In the circumstances the Office said it advised the Council that in default of submission by the Council of a clear, unequivocal, definitive and verifiable timeline for the completion of works by the the 31st August, the Office would commence a full own initiative investigation into the matter on the strength of Art 13(2) of Chapter 385 of the Laws of Malta.

The request of the Office was not met by the Council by the deadline of the 31 August 2025.

The Office commenced an own initiative investigation on the 1 September 2025 in terms of Art 13(2) of Chapter 385.

The Office said that on the 1st of September, the Council informed the Office that it had requested leave from the Department of Local Government to go ahead with a direct order procedure.

On the 5th of September, the Office said it was then informed by the Council that the direct order request had been approved by the Department of Local Government and that the Council had requested adequate funding from the Ministry for Gozo and Planning for the completion of the project.

The Office said that the conclusion of the works was dependent on adequate approval and provision of funding. “The serious inconvenience of residents persisted as works stalled (or almost) for further months.”

As the situation was untenable, the Office said that a second set of five photos were taken and sent to the Council on the 17th of November.

At this point, on his own initiative, the Ombudsman said that he consulted the Minister for Gozo and Planning in terms of Art 18(4) of Chapter 385 and sought the direct involvement of the Minister for Gozo and Planning into the matter.

The Office said that “not only did the Minister extend his full co-operation and co-ordination of what was required, but kept the Ombudsman informed.”

On his part, the Ombudsman “kept constant watch and alerted the Minister whenever works were held up,” the Office said.

On the 14th of January 2026, the Office said it was informed by the Minister that not only had the road works resumed but that required machinery was on site for final completion of works. Photos were sent to the Ombudsman.

When the laying of tarmac was about to commence, Storm Harry struck the Maltese Islands on the 19 and 20 January 2026. Due to the severe challenges brought about by Storm Harry, other works in Gozo had to be given priority. The Office said that the Minister assured the Ombudsman that laying of tarmac would resume soonest possible.

On the 4th of February, the Minister informed the Ombudsman that the laying of tarmac in Triq Tumas Cassar would commence on that day and finish on the following day. On the 5th of February the Minister advised the Ombudsman that the first course tarmac was laid and completed. Fresh photos confirmed the positive outcome.

The Ombudsman said that it is closing the investigation and “publicly acknowledges the constructive approach, updates and responsiveness of the Minister for Gozo and Planning to have the matter positively settled.”

Photos: Office of the Ombudsman

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