Lm8m spent on embellishment works

The present government has so far spent Lm8 million on embellishment works in tourist areas, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said in parliament yesterday.

Speaking on the adjournment of the morning sitting, Dr Refalo said Opposition leader Alfred Sant speaking last Sunday, gave the impression that no embellishment work was carried out on tourist areas by the present government, when the opposite was the case.

The PN government had promised in its electoral programme to embellish tourist areas, and it had kept its promise. Lm8 million had been spent so far by this government on embellishment works, coordinated by the Infrastructure Ministry.

Those works included the Sliema promenade, the first two phases of the St Julian's embellishment project and initial works in Paceville. A new look had been given to Birzebbuga and extensive works had been carried out in Marsaxlokk. Other works were carried out in Bugibba, Qawra and St Paul's Bay as well as Gnejna, Ghar Lapsi and Spinola.

It was true that the Labour government had carried out embellishment works at Bugibba, but it was also true that those works had dragged into the middle of summer, to the inconvenience of tourists. Indeed, operators had to pay compensation.

The present government had laid down that government and parastatal bodies would not carry out infrastructural works other than urgent ones in tourist areas during the summer starting from the end of June. This included embellishment work.

This decision meant that works had to be carried out on schedule and those responsible needed to ensure that timetables were observed without skiving and undue overtime.

In this context he wanted to ask why roads remained dug up for weeks on end, sending dust clouds everywhere. Clearly the cause was poor project management and lack of supervision.

In Sliema, many roads were disrupted for an unduly long period because of resurfacing at Tower Road.

Dr Refalo said George Borg Olivier Street in St Julian's looked like it had been hit by an earthquake having been dug up from both sides. Last Saturday morning as he walked along the street he had seen some work being done by a contractor while five government workers stared at a colleague fixing something near San Giljan pitch, without lifting a finger. Further down the street Maltacom workers chatted at the corner. Did such workers need to be brought in overtime on a Saturday when the only thing they did was stare?

At the same time, residents and tourists were suffering the inconvenience caused by the works, particularly the dust clouds raised by the cars. The dust was clogging air conditioning units, causing damage. Did it take much for seawater to be used to damp down this dust?

Dr Refalo said that at the lower part of Wilga Street, where works were also in hand, he had also observed two workers just chatting. How could works be concluded by June at this rate?

The opposition quickly criticised the government whenever works dragged on, but the real blame should be pinned on those who planned works, those who were responsible for supervision and those who were not doing what they were paid to do.

Whoever was responsible needed to do his duty and ensure that works were completed by the end of June, before the tourist season reached its peak, the minister insisted.