Updated | Infrastructure Minister fires contractor working on Dock 1 project

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt has fired the contractor responsible of the embellishment works of Dock 1 in Cospicua following "unacceptable" delays.

In a statement the Transport Ministry said Gatt has given orders to replace the contractor to complete the road works between Triq Santa Tereza and Triq ix-Xatt ta' Bormla.

"The delays have caused an unacceptable inconvenience in the area," Gatt said, adding that the work on the mentioned roads will commence next Tuesday and will be finished in three weeks' time.

The ministry added that the Holy Week activities and scheduled processions will not be affected.

Meanwhile, discussions have already started between the ministry, the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation and the Contracts Department to remove the contractor and to find an immediate solution to complete the Dock 1 project.

The government's statement preempted a conference called by the Labour Party to discuss the delays in the work of the Grand Harbour Regeneration project.

Speaking in Cospicua, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said government had issued the announcement because of the PL's press call and criticised the numerous delays that characterised the project.

Labour's spokesman on public works Charles Buhagiar said the project had been promised to the residents since 1996.

"The project was then set to start in March 2009, but Austin Gatt then announced that negotiations had failed causing a further delay in the commencement of the project. The project was then moved to January 2010 and then delayed again to July and September of the same year," Mangion said.

He added that the actual projected started in January 2011 with the deadline being set for October 2011.