Prime minister’s contractor of choice emerges as key operator in secretive Marsaskala promenade works

Elbros Group, the same major contractors hired by the prime minister to work on his Żejtun villa, have emerged as the second key operator brought in to carry out the infrastructure ministry’s secretive €18 million Marsaskala promenade regeneration project.

Photos sent to The Shift by Marsaskala Residents’ Network (MRN) show vehicles belonging to Elbros Group carrying out works on site, including the demolition of the promenade’s archways and the extraction of debris.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bonett does not want to reveal the names of the contractors who were hired for the regeneration works, with his ministry refusing to formally respond to a Freedom of Information request by The Shift.

So far, Bonett has also not explained how the contractors were selected, nor why the majority of the works being carried out on the promenade are covered by “emergency permits” issued by Transport Malta (TM) rather than regular planning permits issued through the Planning Authority (PA).

Additional questions have been sent to the Infrastructure Ministry to determine whether any other contractors are involved, how much money has been paid to them, and why the ministry failed to issue a public tender for these works.

The only two PA permits connected to the project referred specifically to dredging works carried out in Marsaskala Bay itself and the construction of a ferry landing area. Neither of these permits has been approved, meaning that the works carried out so far are not regulated by the PA.

Besides Elbros, Schembri Barbros are also known to be involved, as their vehicles were previously spotted on site. Both Elbros and Schembri Barbros are major players in the construction sector, with Elbros in particular holding a wide-ranging portfolio of business interests.

Last year, The Shift reported Elbros’ involvement as the prime minister’s lead contractors on his ODZ villa in Żejtun, which the prime minister and his wife had acquired after a slew of illegalities were hastily sanctioned by the PA against a €45,000 fine.