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James Debono
The business partners of Polidano Brothers, the company responsible for illegal excavation works in Xemxija Road that led to its collapse in a mudslide in January, have clinched a EUR6 million (Lm2.6 million) contract for the reconstruction of the same road which collapsed in a mudslide in January.
Alsfaltar Ltd, a shareholder along with Polidano Brothers in the companies Roads Group International Ltd and Bitumen Distribution Ltd, will be carrying out the works.
Polidano’s illegal works in Xemxija had triggered an inquiry ordered by the Environment Minister which was highly critical of the approach taken by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority saying “it (MEPA) had left the developers to do as they please.”
Ironically, it will be a business partner of Polidano Brothers to reconstruct the road.
The contract for the reconstruction of the 2.7km long St Paul’s Bay bypass was awarded to Asfaltar in February.
Charles Polidano and Asfaltar’s Joe Magro are the sole directors as well as shareholders of Bitumen Supplies Limited. Together with Hector Camilleri, they are also directors of Bitumen Import Company Limited.
Polidano Brothers has also teamed up with Asfaltar Ltd and Gatt Brothers in a consortium to clinch the tender for the reconstruction of Civil Aviation Avenue in Luqa which was also signed in February.
The close connections between the company awarded the contract for the Xemxija Road and Polidano, were not taken in consideration when the contract was awarded.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Finance insisted that in the tender for the reconstruction and upgrading of St Paul's Bay By Pass, Asfaltar Ltd “tendered in its own name” and therefore the companies co-owned by the Polidano and Asfaltar “were not considered in the evaluation of the offer by Asfaltar Ltd.”
The ministry’s spokesperson would not answer whether any specifications were included in the contract to ensure that Polidano Brothers Ltd is not involved in the said works through engines or materials used in the project.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Roads would not comment on this issue claiming that the “adjudication process and the awarding of the said contract were not handled by the Ministry for Urban Development and Roads.”
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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