Labour government has spent €1.3 million on Castille refurbishment

Just over €1.3 million have been invested in the Auberge the Castille by the current Labour government, accroding to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

He was replying to a parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi, who asked the Prime Minister for the government’s total spend on “interior decoration”, as well as which companies or entities had been engaged to carry out the work and whether contracts were awarded by tender.

Muscat said the total investment in the auberge since 2013 was €1,315,023 and that work primarily included “much-needed” refurbishment in various parts of the building.

“An almost equal amount - €1,261,117 – were invested in refurbishment works on Castille by the previous Nationalist administration administration,” Muscat pointed out.

The Prime Minister said that work carried out since 2013 included painting “and other related work on offices and halls”, updating of the electrical and lighting systems for them to in conformity with present day standards, changes in furniture, work on office doors, as well as the installation of skirting and parquet flooring.

The bill also included gypsum work, floor polishing, work on windows, changes in curtains, work on Castille’s restrooms and kitchenettes as well as a CCTV system.

“Over the last six years, the Auberge de Castille has hosted a series of events related to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2015 as well as the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe in 2017,” Muscat said, adding that Castille had also hosted some 50 heads of state and other personalities.

The Prime Minister said that in January 2014, there had also been a fire at the reception area.

Muscat concluded by stating that all the works had been procured using public procurement rules.