Collapse of St Paul's Bay block

I have just finished reading the report in The Times (October 26) entitled Inquiry on Building Collapse Nears End.

Nearly five months have elapsed since that fateful day of June 3, 2004 where Mary Zarb and Nadya Vavilova tragically lost their lives. We now await the conclusions of the magisterial inquiry explaining why half the Ramon Perellos flats suddenly collapsed.

One cannot help but feel that the construction of new flats that was taking place in the adjacent plot might have contributed to the collapse of the Ramon Perellos flats, in fact, it was reported that, "Ms Zarb and neighbours living adjacent to the plot had complained about the vibrations while excavation works were underway" and yet the works continued.

The findings of the magisterial inquiry has as yet not been published and yet the works are continuing and the foundations have now been completed!

It seems that nothing will stop the construction of this new building. It has taken priority over everything, including the lives of the remaining tenants who are now "homeless home owners". I could not begin to imagine being in a situation where the home I purchased has become uninhabitable, some or all of one's personal possessions being destroyed, losing one's job as a direct result of having to leave work abroad and return to Malta on short notice, being homeless, having to make monthly payments on a home that no longer exists besides having to pay for alternative accommodation. And all this is taking place while a new building is being constructed without further delay so money can be made without any consideration for the remaining tenants or respect for Mrs Zarb and Miss Vavilova.

Can any competent person in authority please explain how an application to resume work on the new building was accepted while the Ramon Perellos flats are still in a perilous state and literally being held up by a few steel jacks?

Who is responsible to ensure that the rest of the Ramon Perellos flats will not collapse with the possibility of the workmen constructing the new building being harmed or fatally injured?

Does it make any common sense at all to allow the construction of a new building before the Ramon Perellos flats are rebuilt?