‘It Was A Constructive Dismissal’: Former BCA Head Reveals System Struggles And Potential Political Interference

During the third session of the public inquiry concerning the tragic death of Jean Paul Sofia, Karl Azzopardi, the BCA’s first CEO, delivered a statement which gave insights into the challenges faced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA),shedding new light onto the complexities of the construction sector’s oversight body.

“It was a constructive dismissal”.

Discussing the reasoning behind his sudden departure in mid-2022, Azzopardi stated,

“There was a change of ministers after the election, and when we met it became clear that my plan was not agreed upon in principle.”

Pressed further, Azzopardi labelled it as a “constructive dismissal”, currently being reviewed by the Industrial Tribunal. This altercation with the current minister, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, after having an “agreement to disagree” throws a spotlight on potential political influence over BCA’s operations.

Further intrigue emerged when Azzopardi mentioned the completion of three separate building codes that have remained unimplemented. This, combined with Mario Cassar’s question on how the BCA could manage oversight on thousands of sites with just 11 inspectors, emphasises the potential systemic inefficiencies.

Additionally, Azzopardi highlighted the BCA’s aim to elevate industry standards, referencing models like Singapore’s. Plans included introducing a national building code, licensing contractors, and implementing mandatory skill cards for construction workers.

Azzopardi revealed the BCA was initially designed to function with a headcount of “not less than 300”. However, by the time he departed in June 2022, the authority had only 70 staff members.Budgetary issues might have played a role, as Azzopardi disclosed he had requested €18 million but received only half of that.

Potential conflict of interest issues were also raised concerning Maria Schembri Grima, the BCA chair during Azzopardi’s tenure, who was simultaneously a practicing architect. Azzopardi admitted being unaware of her private work.

The Corradino collapse which resulted in Sofia’s death was a focal point of the discussion. Azzopardi expressed regret about the lack of notification protocols when no third party is involved, calling it “a lesson to learn for the future.”

What are you thoughts on Azzopardi’s testimony this morning? Sound off in the comments below