No fines imposed yet on ‘late’ Esplora contractor

The contractor who, according to the Malta Council for Science and Technology Chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, was responsible for the late completion of the Bighi science centre called Esplora has not yet paid any fines as stipulated by the contract, Times of Malta is informed.
Last May, Dr Pullicino Orlando blamed the contractor for the late completion of the project and insisted fines would be imposed for delays in its delivery.

After the MCST refused to reply to a number of questions by this newspaper, the Times of Malta has now learnt through a freedom of information request that the negotiations on fines to be imposed on the lead contractor – FMM Joint Venture – are still ongoing.
Stating that, according to the works contract, the target for completion was the end of 2015, the Education Ministry said that “discussions regarding penalties are presently ongoing with the Department of Contracts”.
The Education Ministry’s position is the same as that taken by the former Nationalist MP eight months ago, when Dr Pullicino Orlando said that discussions were ongoing on imposing fines on the consortium, formed by C&F Building Contractors and Central Power Installations...