Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1267406
09.07.2020 3 NEWS FROM PAGE 1 In a damning report published on Tues- day, the National Audit Office said that the multi-million euro deal to transfer three State hospitals to an obscure pri- vate company was "predetermined" and pointed an accusing finger at an agree- ment signed between the government and some of the investors involved in Vitals Global Healthcare before even the request for proposal was published. e NAO said government was re- luctant to provide it with a copy of the pre-tender agreement, reinforcing con- cerns over the "integrity of the eventual concession". e 200-page report was tabled in par- liament and is only one of three audits concerning the VGH hospitals deal. e first report is a review of the tender pro- cess up to the point that VGH was select- ed as preferred bidder. e other two re- ports will be released at a later date. Muscat said that Tulumuri used to brag about the frequent meetings he had with then health minister Konrad Mizzi, and about the many evenings he spent having dinner at the minister's house. According to Muscat, Tumuluri's and the government's complicity was evident on numerous occasions. In one instance, when Tumuluri had boasted that the consortium would be bringing over specialists from America to work here, he had been told that getting the Medical Council's go-ahead for such employment was a very long and compli- cated process. "But Tumuluri brushed all words of cau- tion aside and said that Mizzi had assured him that the Medical Council would toe the line," Muscat said. Tuuluri allegedly also used to boast about his office in Castille and the com- pant he kept. "I remember once, when I was with my group's medical director, Tumuluri boast- ed how he was so much better informed about what was happening at Mater Dei Hospital than we were," Mizzi said. "at was just one of many times where Tumu- luri's character and intentions were made clear to those around him." Termination of contract Opposition spokesman Dr Stephen Spiteri said that the hospitals contract, now in the hands of Steward Healthcare, should be immediately cancelled and the hospitals returned to the Maltese. Spiteri said that the NAO had confirmed what the PN had been saying all along: that it was way past time the contract be rescinded and that the process had been tainted from the very start. "Doctors, nurses, experts and the en- tire healths sector have previously agreed with the PN on how the VGH and Stew- ard deals were not beneficial to the Mal- tese," he said. "Now it is the country's foremost au- thority reporting to parliament that is saying the process was tainted and high- lightimg numerous instances of conten- tion with the who process." Spiteri said that the government should realise and admit that it is time to stop playing around with the hospitals and to finally get serious about the large amount of money the country had already lost on the deal and continued to lose every day. "We should now be focusing on ending the contract," he said. "It is time to take our hospitals back.' 'Time to take our hospitals back' PN spokesman Stephen Spiteri FROM PAGE 1 However, in comments to journalists outside parliament, Chris Said insist- ed MPs delivered a message, which he hoped would be taken up. Sources said the MPs were searching for a solution that avoided the pros- pect of having Delia occupy the role of party leader, while someone else oc- cupying the role of Opposition leader. However, they did not rule out some form of détente in which Delia would stay on as party leader and Grech oc- cupy the role of Opposition leader with the understanding that he will front the next general election. Delia lost the support of MPs in a confidence vote held yesterday but vowed to stay on as party leader. The PN leader turned up in parlia- ment this afternoon and sat at his usual desk. At one point, he was ap- proached by Grech, who tapped De- lia on the waist and the two spoke for around 10 minutes. Sources said Grech was against a rapid move to depose Delia as Oppo- sition leader in a bid to convince him to reach an agreement of sorts. But in comments to journalists just after leaving parliament, Delia indi- cated he had no intention of leaving and insisted that he would try and convince MPs to work together. Meanwhile, Chris Said ruled out any interest in the post of leader, adding that MPs will issue a press statement later today to explain the way forward. MPs' statement The PN MPs who voted against De- lia then released a statement yesterday evening, in which they gave Delia a chance to leave but failed to say what their next step is. The communication was signed by Chris Said and Therese Comodini Cachia, the two MPs who pushed the vote of no confidence in Delia last Tuesday. This was the first public statement since the vote, which Delia lost by 19 votes to 11. However, the statement gave no in- dication of what steps the rebel MPs will take and if so, within which time- frames. The MPs met yesterday afternoon amid growing anticipation that they would be going to the President to remove Delia from Opposition leader after yesterday's vote. "We appeal to Adrian Delia to put first and foremost the party and this country's interests in these dire cir- cumstances. We are as ever deter- mined to continue to act in the best interest of the country and the party," the statement said. Deputy leader's disappointment Nationalist Party deputy leader Da- vid Agius said there is no vacancy yet for Opposition leader, as he voiced concern that the country's focus was not on government corruption. Agius said he voted in favour of par- ty leader Adrian Delia during Tues- day's vote of no confidence pushed by rebel MPs. The deputy leader told journalists gathered outside parliament yesterday afternoon that so far, Delia remained the leader of the Opposition and the party. "I have confidence in Adrian Delia but we have to understand what the situation is and act accordingly… I voted in favour of Adrian Delia and he is the leader of the Opposition and the party, as members wanted and I respect that. When and if there is a process that dictates otherwise we will act accordingly," Agius said. Visibly disappointed by the situation the PN had found itself in, Agius re- gretted that instead of focussing on government's corruption, the country was debating the Opposition. "We have a grave situation in the country and we need the PN to be very strong right now... it is subjective to say the PN will be strong without Adrian Delia. We need to be strong collectively to stand up to government corruption and defend the interests of ordinary people," Agius said. Other PN MPs declined to comment as they entered parliament. PN MPs' post-Delia plans still unclear Adrian Delia addressing journalists outside parliament yesterday