Minister halts unpopular white paving

A report in the Times said that sources close to the minister, who is resident in the City and works out of offices in Strait Street, said he hated the material chosen for the job.

The decision to use the material does not fall under his ministry as all rehabilitation projects including the Valletta Rehabilitation Project (VRP) falls under George Pullicino’s Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA).

Dr Gatt issued instructions to stop using the white material which has turned grey due to fuel oil, pigeon droppings and other dirt.

A spokesperson for the ministry said “It is evident the material used does not give the desired results, so much so that Minister Gatt directed it is not to be used for other streets, which will be paved with either lava or profido.”

MRRA stood by its choice in material which was selected to reintegrate with the remaining material and that the look of the stones would improve with weathering and use.

Architect Claude Borg said the choice of materials was the result of two years of research and that it was “irrational” for extraneous materials to be used just because they were dark.