Excel Sis, where Joseph Portelli is the main shareholder along with Gozitan businessmen and close collaborators Mark Agius (Ta’ Dirjanu) and Daniel Refalo and a Turkish company, pocketed €1,846,727 in direct orders in work for Infrastructure Malta. 

Beyond that, the company was also awarded a further €3,950,500 in tenders, bringing their total earnings from Infrastructure Malta for the first six months of the year up to just under €6,000,000. 

The largest direct order they received was for the “increase of electrical power system capacity”, which cost €932,180.59.

Bonnici Bros, which has been the major recipient of government funds during the Labour Party administration, earned €2,675,197 in direct orders. A €1.5 million tender brings their total earnings in six months to €4,200,000. 

Bonnici Bros’ largest direct order was €800,000 for road works on the road leading from Għajn Tuffieħa to Xemxija.

However, the single largest direct orders came in the form of work done on the pedestrian bridge along the Mriehel Bypass. 

One direct order for the construction of the underpass, wing walls and pedestrian bridge cost €2,691,989, while another, for the civil and finishing works, cost €2,000,000.

Both were issued to the Link-2018 JV – which is a consortium between V&C Contractors Ltd, Schembri Barbros and Schembri Holdings.

Environmental Landscapes Consortium, which is made up of Charles ‘Ic-Caqnu’ Polidano, Carlos Alberto Calamatta, Lewis Micallef and Boris Farrugia also scored big, taking home €1,523,751 in direct orders from IM. 

A full list of the direct orders can be found over here.

Usually, any payment over €10,000 should be issued through a tendering process. However, there are rules for the Minister responsible for bypassing the procedure, although this should not exceed a €135,000 limit.

Still, the rule is seldomly followed, with ministries dishing out millions in direct orders year after year.

Malta’s construction and planning sector is currently subject to a corruption investigation inside the police force, with government entities, including Infrastructure Malta, reportedly under the microscope.

Infrastructure Malta currently falls under the remit of Minister Aaron Farrugia. However, prior to March’s election, Ian Borg was responsible. Frederick Azzopardi who once led IM, stepped down earlier this year.

Trustin Farrugia Cann was brought in to replace him but stepped down a few months later to pursue a career in refereeing. He has been replaced by Ivan Falzon.

What do you think of the figures?