Homeless Gwardamanġa Residents Sue After Growing Sick Of Construction ‘Impunity’
Fourteen Gwardamanġa residents whose apartment collapsed last month due to works at an adjacent construction site have sued key figures associated with that site. Developer Mohib Abouzidan, contractor Carmel Ellul and architect Jonathan Schembri are all being sued.
In a judicial protest, the residents lamented that construction works are ongoing with “absolute impunity” without the homeless families having been so much as consulted about it.
“On 13th June, the plaintiffs suffered serious damages to their apartments due to the excavation and construction works carried out by the defendants,” the legal document reads. “This incident was down to the defendants’ carelessness, negligence and lack of observance of the rules.”
“They suffered serious damages, they remain homeless and their personal items have also been taken from them.”
They questioned whether the defendants are observing a new legal notice which requires architects to prepare and publish a method statement detailing how the construction will be carried out, as well as a condition report which assesses its potential impact on adjacent properties.
They warned they are holding Abouzidan, Ellul and Schembri responsible for the damages they have suffered, that they are currently suffering and that they will suffer, and added they are reserving the right to kickstart criminal proceedings.
The residents are represented by lawyers Veronique Dalli and Edward Zammit Lewis, who is also a Labour MP.
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