Design & Build 02 | Page 35

Design T he first thing one notes on entering the Hon. Minister’s office is the number of model boats that he has all around him. It transpires that he is an avid model maker, very much used to delving deeply into the complexities of bringing to life these small replicas of famous vessels and warships. One then starts to realise why this man has such a hands-on attitude to his work. Adding to that the fact that he open- ly admits to hailing from a working background further clarifies why the way he views his responsibilities has such a practical stance. In many cases the night work is literally going unnoticed by residents nearby In fact, Mr Mizzi underlines his attitude for hands-on management early in our meeting stating that there is a great difference from plans on paper to the reality of how things work out. And for him checking and rechecking the model proposed is a priority which means you can expect him to turn up on-site unexpectedly to check out whether things are working out as they should be “on paper”. posed for the infrastructure to ensure their real function- ality. As an example of the methods and mentality changes that are being introduced by his Ministry, Minister Mizzi cites the introduction of building works at night on some projects. “In many cases the night work is literally going unnoticed by residents nearby” he said. “If things are not functioning satisfactorily then I will make changes as necessary” he told us. He is constantly oversee- ing (and remodelling if need be) the models that are pro- The Minister clearly states that in his approach he will not take infringements lightly, and fining contractors (if their work is not up to standard or not in compliance The Kappara junction is one of the means being implemented to eradicate traffic bottlenecks from our roads. DESIGN&BUILD Q1, 2017 33