Works to pull down Marsa power station chimneys to start imminently

Works to pull down one of the first chimneys at the former Marsa power station will start soon, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said.

Addressing a public consultation meeting from the series ‘Gvern li Jisma’, Mizzi said works to dismantle the Marsa power station were proceeding as planned and works will soon start to pull down the first chimney. As revealed two months ago, works will soon commence to dismantle the tanks used for oil storage in Birzebbuga, the oldest one of which was built in 1919.

The public consultation meeting, organised by the government to allow the Cabinet of ministers consult with the general public, saw a number of interventions by COOs and CEOs luading the ministry’s work for reducing the price of utility bills. The comments were welcomed by Mizzi who said it was of “satisfaction” to him to hear companies say the reduction in utility tariffs helped them to become more competitive.

In almost every intervention made, the minister and parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne received praise while barely any questions were raised. Eliciting a giggle from those present, one woman told the ministers to do something about “fat nurses” working at the hospital – a comment that was ignored by both Cabinet members.

The ministers reiterated they were working hard to solve the issue of lack of beds, after a member of the audience pointed out the “serious problem which the government had inherited”.

“Every problem has its silver lining,” Fearne replied. “Had it not been for plans to increase two floors at the Emergency Department we would have never discovered the problem with the concrete.”

In his opening remarks, the energy minister said that what has been revealed so far was in connection with the use of weak concrete at Mater Dei Hospital was “just the tip of the iceberg”.

He claimed that people were repeatedly contacting the ministry reporting a number of shortcomings: “People keep calling us reporting cases of extra invoicing; work paid for but never carried out. We urge people with any information to come forward – there is the Whistleblower Act which you can make use of.”

He said that the government will be going after the contractors and Skanska “and take action where others failed to”.

Fearne, while listing the works undertaken by the ministry to improve healthcare services, announced that medicine used by diabetics – costing €60 a packet – will be available free of charge as from November and included in the free medicine list provided by the government.

No out-of-stock medicine was reported for 10 months, he said.

Fearne also announced that, as from August, all cancer services will be provided at the new oncology centre at Mater Dei Hospital. An ambulance will be stationed at the Paola healthcare centre.

The government, the junior minister said, had reached an agreement with the Malta Football Association to build a football ground at Mount Carmel Hospital, providing youths receiving mental care treatment with a place of enjoyment.

On a separate issue, Fearne said the government will be engaging a company to ensure that foreigners receiving treatment in Malta pay for the healthcare services received. It is estimated that the government would collect some €3 million a year.

Anton Buttigieg, the new CEO of Trade Malta, said a business delegation will be accompanying the Prime Minister to Milan where a Malta day will be held at the Milan Expo. In the following months, Trade Malta will lead a business delegation to Moscow as Maltese companies seek to tap into the Russian exports market while a visit to Algiers will follow.

“It is important to help entrepreneurs that focused on Libya to diversify their markets,” Mizzi said, praising the work that was being carried out by Trade Malta.