Developers slam contractor's ‘serious abuse’, want harsher fines

The developers’ lobby has lambasted a contractor who kicked up a massive dust storm in Sliema, calling on the government to impose harsher fines for contractors who fall foul of the law.

In a statement issued after a contractor kicked up a massive dust storm while demolishing Sliema’s Imperial Hotel on Saturday, the Malta Developers’ Association (MDA) slammed the “serious abuse” and said it was clear that the contractor had not taken any measures to mitigate dust.

“The MDA believes that contractors today have all the means – apart from the legal and moral obligation – to minimise and limit the inconvenience to neighbours and the general public.”

“It is clear that this was not done and there was a serious abuse in the case that was reported,” the developers’ lobby said.

On Saturday, contractors kicked up a dust storm during works on the former Imperial hotel in Sliema. Parts of the building were demolished with no dust mitigation measures.

Lambasting the contractor’s behaviour, the MDA assured the public that the Building Regulations Office, which is tasked with enforcing rules related to third party damage on construction sites, would be taking "necessary measures" with the contractor in question.