SVDP wrecking ball is ‘another scandal’

The consortium awarded a €274 million government direct order at St Vincent de Paul residence demolished the industrial kitchen there before it had even signed the contract to tear it down and rebuild it, The Sunday Times of Malta can reveal.

The move was described as “another scandal in the series” by a senior government source close to the consortium, made up of James Caterers and Malta Health Care (a subsidiary of db Group).

The consortium is already mired in controversy over the manner in which the €274 million contract was handled, which according to lawyers was in breach of EU regulations.

“The consortium knocked down the whole kitchen without the knowledge of the Department of Contracts, even though there was no contract signed with the government yet,” the source told The Sunday Times of Malta.

“This situation was very embarrassing for the department, as it basically forced their hand in the negotiations they were conducting on the whole tender for catering services.”

Instead of halting the process and issuing a new call for tenders, the department decided to close negotiations with the consortium rapidly and sign the contract, so that the works already undertaken could...