'Unforeseen problems' caused Birzebbuga paving works ills

Government employees yesterday started taking apart the newly-laid church parvis in Birzebbuga, inaugurated just a few weeks ago.

A spokesman for the Infrastructure Ministry said the quality of the material and the standard of workmanship employed in the initial specimen portion of the paving project were of the required specifications. However, due to unforeseen problems encountered during the execution of the paving works, "mainly lack of professional supervision and substandard workmanship", the tiling process resulted in an unacceptable finished product.

He said that in early December, Minister Ninu Zammit went on a site and it was decided to repave the whole parvis in a manner that reflected the design pattern already adopted but utilising materials of different textures.

The spokesman clarified that the works carried out at the Birzebbuga village core included the reconstruction of a public garden behind the parish church and the installation of a new lighting system and garden furniture.

The laying of granite steps and the paving of the parvis with granite cobbles followed the excavation of the old parvis and stairs. This work included the removal of cement tiles, a four-feet thick layer of soil and the construction of a reinforced foundation base.

The spokesman said that when apportioned in the said components, an expense to the tune of Lm180,000, totally financed by the ministry, indicated a minimal labour cost element for the paving of the parvis as the granite cobbles used would not be dumped but stored within the Works Division for future use.

He said the estimated sum spent on the paving of the parvis with granite cobbles and the removal of the same cobbles would amount to Lm5,500, representing about three per cent of the total cost.

This, he added, explained the "misconception" in an article on the project that appeared in The Times last week that taxpayers' money was being spent deficiently.

In the article, The Times had said that the project, which included the garden and parking area behind the church, cost about Lm180,000, with the job being carried out by government employees.

The spokesman said the ministry implemented and would continue to implement projects with the least technical expense possible and to acceptable standards. In the Mdina paving project, for example, one slab out of seven was rejected.

The spokesman said that village core embellishment projects carried out over the last years, such as at Mellieha centre, Lija parish square, Kirkop church parvis and St Leonard square and the Zurrieq church parvis, were carried out successfully within a stipulated timeframe and to high workmanship standards.

Taxpayers' money was spent wisely by the ministry with each project being implemented by government employees at the least possible financial expense, the spokesman said.

"With the exception of a relatively small portion of this paving project at Birzebbuga, all the works carried out by Works Division employees since 2003 have been of the required standard and fitted perfectly in the dictum value for money," the spokesman added.