Gudja councillors want Auditor General’s investigation into Charles Buhagiar’s roadworks

The Gudja local council has asked the Auditor General and the Ombudsman to investigate works carried out by Labour MP Charles Buhagiar’s architectural firm, which PN councillor Mark Anthony Sammut claims were carried out incorrectly.

Sammut said road levels on Birzebbuga road in Gudja were changed without the council’s consent, aggravating the concentration of rainwater on the road instead of allowing it to flow into a valley.

“Despite repeated questions to mayor John Mary Calleja, who was responsible for the project, he has not answered who approved changes to the levels. The council’s surveyor has said he was never asked to present any finalised road levels,” Sammut said.

Sammut said Buhagiar’s report to the council did not answer questions put to him by the council. He said that only the mayor did not vote in favour of withholding payment for Buhagiar’s report until he satisfactorily explains why road levels had changed.

Buhagiar is also chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Committee.

“In the face of such awkward action, we are requesting an investigation as to whether there was any political interference by the mayor to take decisions against what was approved by the council, and whether there has been a maladministration of public funds.”