Unfinished projects in Gozo at tax payers expense – PL

Labour MP Anton Refalo has said in a statement that, "the works being carried out on Xlendi Road are just one example of mismanagement at the Gozo Ministry, It’s a pity that works on projects are carried out according to the needs of contractors at the tax payers’ expense."

"Work on the Xlendi Road should have started in 2005 costing €1 million. In fact work started 5 years later in 2010 and according to Minister Giovanna Debono, it should have been finished by the end of that year. We are now 4 months into 2011 and the work is in progress with the project costing the tax payer, €4.5 million," the Labour MP said.

Dr Refalo went on to say that The Gozo Abattoir was closed seven years ago for refurbishment works after Malta joined the EU, the place needed upgrading to be able to adhere to the new EU regulations, the abattoir never opened its doors again.

Dr Refalo said that other unfinished projects included The Institute of Tourism Studies which is still undergoing renovations, the Victoria to San Lawrenz Road, where works are still in progress and had gone well over the estimated budget. The Arts and Culture centre where only only 3 out of 10 workshops are being utilised and which Dr Refalo says are being used for purposes other than that what they were built for. The Villa Rundle gardens in Victoria, Dr Refalo said, should now be at an advanced stage, and in fact should have been completed in March this year, and is now due for completion in September of this year.

Another two projects behind in completion are the operation theatre at the Gozo Hospital, which was planned to be ready in March 2010 and is now due for the end of this year and the Taz-Zewwieqa project, for which Dr Refalo claims, the contract has not yet been signed.

Dr Refalo finished his statement by saying that, "his only conclusion from all this is that friends are being getting richer at the tax payers’ expense."