NEWS | Sunday, 15 July 2007

Cenmed talks “advanced” but Sta Marija roads not ready yet

The laying of roads at Bertu Mizzi’s Santa Marija Estate are still pending, despite getting a Lm48,000 “contribution” to comply with court orders to build roads and provide services.
Earlier this week, Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett said in parliament that talks with Bertu Mizzi’s company Cenmed and the Transport Authority (ADT) were “at an advanced stage” although an agreement had not been reached yet.
For years, Santa Marija residents have been pressing Mizzi to provide them with the road surfacing and drainage, water and electricity systems – obligations that were the responsibility of his company, Cenmed, which owns the private estate in Mellieha.
In June 2003, Cenmed was ordered by a Civil Court to build access roads to the villas in the estate and to pay for their maintenance, as well as to provide drainage, water and electricity systems within three months of the verdict. The sentence was confirmed by an Appeals Court and by the Constitutional Court late last year.
To this day, however the roads are still in a mess as residents remain cut off from door-to-door services, that refuse to drive on what are being described as “jungle streets”.
Mizzi has blamed the works delay on the council and services authorities which he claimed “had several disputes” about how the works had to be done.
The ADT will be forwarding the magnate a Lm48,070 “contribution” to make sure that works Cenmed carry out will be “up to standard”.