Yet again taxpayers made to pay for the Government’s fiasco in Ta’ Qali

Momentum says the latest revelation that the government has hired a landscaping expert at a cost of up to €9,000 confirms what many already suspected. Major decisions affecting Ta’ Qali were taken without proper expertise, without due diligence, and without accountability.

This is yet another example of a serious failure of governance. Public funds were spent without proper checks and balances, public outrage followed, and only then did the government seek professional guidance.

Taxpayers are now being asked to pay again. When €311,000 have been paid for works that failed, €9,000 for a new expert, and thousands of euros paid to the CEO, who breached basic principles of good governance by issuing illegal direct orders and carrying out works without the necessary environmental studies and permits.

Professor Arnold Cassola, leader of Momentum, said: “In any serious administration, the cost of correcting mistakes should not be borne by the public while those responsible face no consequences. Good governance requires accountability, not political forgiveness, while the public still awaits a clear apology.”

Cassola added, “The question is no longer whether mistakes were made. The question is who authorised the works, who approved the direct order, who decided that no permits were required, and why was no expert advice documented beforehand.”

Momentum believes that those responsible for the wrong decisions should take responsibility, including covering the cost of corrective expert advice. This is what accountability looks like in a functioning democracy.

Momentum calls for an end to the routine misuse of direct orders, while it still awaits replies to the Freedom of Information request it submitted last year regarding:

• The identity of the park management committee that approved the direct order in question concerning the gravel works
• The minutes of the meeting during which the committee approved this direct order, or any other documentation related to its approval or authorisation
• Information identifying any other works being carried out by Bonnici Brothers in the vicinity of the park
• Copies of any consultations held with entities and consultants regarding the necessity of laying the gravel. 

The Ministry of Transport continues to refuse to answer these questions, thus implicitly confirming the suspected wrongdoing.

The Ministry can run….but it cannot hide.

(Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

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