Alan Camilleri silent on NYE party at Malta Enterprise's new offices

A party was held on New Year's Eve until the early hours of New Year's Day in what looks like an apartment at the top floors of the new Malta Enterprise (ME) offices, eyewitnesses told MaltaToday.

MaltaToday's questions on whether a party was held at the new €3.87 million offices and if an apartment exists sent to ME chairman Alan Camilleri remained unanswered.

ME never got a reply to the numerous questions sent by e-mail and when Camilleri was contacted he stated that he had no knowledge of the questions sent. However, he said "I have nothing to say about your questions. No comment".

A Finance Ministry spokesperson told MaltaToday that he was informed by ME that "no such party took place" and added that "security cameras were checked and nobody had entered the offices on Saturday (New Year's Eve), except for the security officer on duty".

On the existence of the apartment, the ministry spokesperson told MaltaToday that ME informed him that there is no apartment on the top floor of the building, however did not confirm whether any such apartment exists anywhere else in the premises. The spokesperson said "(the ministry) does not have any further details. Please direct any further specific queries to the Corporation itself".

The approximate cost of the relocation of the ME offices from the San Gwann Industrial Estate to the former Institute for Health Care in St Luke's Hospital has been tagged at €3.87 million. The bill was footed by the taxpayer but ME will soon relocate their premises for the second time in four years.

ME's permanence in Gwardamangia is not expected to run beyond 2015 when the €200 million Corporate Village project in Mriehel, is completed. Corporate Village is to host Malta Enterprise and the VAT and Inland Revenue departments as its first tenants.

Late last year, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had said that due to the speedy nature of the relocation, 17 contracts were awarded by restrictive tendering processes, which are open only to selected pre-qualified contractors, and three other contracts were awarded by direct order.

The three direct orders were awarded to Mediterranean Technical Services Ltd for providing consultancy on building services. This direct order cost €55,000 (excluding VAT). The other two direct orders were awarded to Pace & Lautier Design Workshop.

Pace & Lautier provided project management, interior design and other consultancy services for  €370,000 (excluding VAT) and architectural and structural design services for €51,000 (excluding VAT).

Fenech also said that the decision to move the offices to a state-owned property had been the right decision because the rental of a similar commercial property would have cost €500,000 annually, and the investment in state-owned property would be recuperated within three years.