Getting away with murder. Who’s next?

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit’s inquiry into the Hamrun building collapse leading to Miriam Pace’s death, is a crushing indictment of the state of the Maltese construction industry over the last 20 years, when developers have literally been allowed to get away with murder.

Since 2018, no less than 10 structures have collapsed during construction work, causing three deaths and many injuries; clearly the authorities’ failure to take action in spite of repeated calls from the public, institutions and NGOs, led to these fatalities.

In the meantime, other accidents are waiting to happen. In Sliema an old house is at risk due to the neighbouring developer ignoring basic regulations, having excavated right up to the wall of the house. The house has been found to be resting on a huge old well, which is not mentioned in the demolition statement, no doubt due to the lack of geological studies. The eventual demolition of the well risks seriously destabilizing the house.

FAA condemns the fact that the elderly resident trapped inside the house due to Covid-19 has been enduring a level of fear, bullying and stress that is as life-threatening as the actual works. Yet she is not alone, as residents are suffering all over Malta due to the authorities’ reluctance to control construction abuse.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit’s inquiry clearly and unequivocally highlighted state authorities “rubber-stamping” paperwork related to excavation works and a lack of qualified personnel at every stage, from the Building Regulations Office, all the way down to operators of excavation equipment, all of which led to the recent collapses of buildings.