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Matthew Vella
The outright majority of all road building contracts for the island of Gozo between 1999 and 2004 were carried out by one group of contractors, MaltaToday can reveal.
A total of Lm746,000 out of Lm918,000 worth of road building contracts which were carried out in Gozo over the last five years were awarded to Victor Hili and Joseph Grima, the director-shareholders of three different companies which were entrusted with the construction and the maintenance of Gozitan roads.
Statistics presented in Parliament by Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono have revealed that Road Construction Co Ltd, Joymar Co Ltd, and Little Rock Quarry Co Ltd, scooped up more than 81 per cent of all Gozo road contracts in the last five years. All three companies are subsidiaries or companies owned by Victor Hili and Joe Grima.
Of the remaining contracts, a total of Lm168,000, roughly 18 per cent of all contracts, were awarded to Gatt Asphalting Ltd and Gatt Tarmac Ltd, both subsidiaries of Gatt Development Ltd of Gozo.
For long the centre of much speculation, the list of road contracts has finally revealed the utter concentration of public monies that exists amongst a few service providers in Gozo.
Although both contractors are remarked to be the sole providers for the extensive construction and laying of roads in Gozo, MaltaToday is informed that minor contractors remain overshadowed by the market dominance of both competitors when submitting tenders for the construction of roads.
matthew@newsworksltd.com
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