Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1490058
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 JANUARY 2023 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A spokesperson for the Au- thority told MaltaToday that the proposed application is be- ing assessed in accordance with Gozo and Comino Local Plan Policies for the area. "All the studies listed in these policies, including 'a social impact study on the nearby community…' have been requested as required by the policies." The local plan states that an airstrip for a fixed-wing aircraft should only be considered fol- lowing a number of studies in- cluding a social impact assess- ment. The local plan also requires a "justification" for proposing a fixed wing aircraft solution in lieu of a rotary wing air link; a study on "alternatives to us- ing a hard runway like the use of an amphibious aircraft", an economic feasibility study to determine the envisaged long- term revenue against capital and operational costs involved, a comparison of costs and reve- nue of the proposed alternatives against the helicopter service; the implications of the project on employment. According to the local plan these require- ments "would complement ad- ditional studies relating to the environmental impacts arising from the proposal". Some of these issues like the economic feasibility aspect have been addressed in a regional im- pact assessment carried out by the Gozo Regional Authority. The Environment and Re- sources Authority recently ex- empted the proposed "rural air- field" in Xewkija in Gozo from the need of a full Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), after concluding that the impacts of the development are unlikely to be significant to the point of warranting such a study. Instead of seeking an EIA on the introduction of the fixed- wing service and extension of the airfield, it has called for a separate study on the airfield's noise impact. The existing Ta' Lambert run- way will be extended from its current 174 metres, to a total length of 445m and a safety area of 30m on each end of the air- strip. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Airstrip for fixed-wing aircraft requires social impact assessment CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr Justice Francesco Depas- quale is expected to deliver his judgement in the coming weeks. Senior government sources are aware that Steward Health Care have "weaponised" the case filed by Delia, by admit- ting in defence submissions in a London court in a case by former Vitals investor Ambrish Gupta, that the VGH conces- sion had been obtained fraud- ulently. Those sources told MaltaTo- day that a court decision rec- ognising any validity in such a statement, could lead to a re- quest to the Maltese police to commence investigations into the role of former prime minis- ter Joseph Muscat, and former minister Konrad Mizzi in the privatisation of the three hos- pitals in favour of Vitals Global Healthcare. VGH ended its stewardship of the three hospitals in December 2017, with millions paid out to former founder-investors Ram Tumuluri, Mark Pawley and other medical shareholders. After Steward took over the concession, it became em- broiled in a case against orig- inal investors Medical Asso- ciates of North Virginia Inc in London, during which it alleged that MANV investor Ambrish Gupta was involved in irregular and collusive prac- tices with the government of Malta. Adrian Delia, the plaintiff in the rescission case, believes the admission has fuelled the legal justification to nullify the con- tract. The fall-out will prompt the Abela administration to coun- ter the political bombshell of the court judgement, with a legal challenge on Steward's contractual obligations over the concession, and whether it is liable to pay not just a €100 million default penalty but also the entirety of Steward's accu- mulated debts in Malta. "We are aware of this probability, because there is a contingency plan to walk in and take over the entire operation," a gov- ernment source told this news- paper. In March 2020, MaltaTo- day revealed the existence of a 'side-letter' crafted by Kon- rad Mizzi – ostensibly never approved by the Cabinet back in 2019 – that gave Steward an "escape clause" on a golden plate, turning any termination of its concession by a court of law, into a government default. That means that even if the hospitals concession agree- ment is simply rescinded by a court of law, it will be deemed as a government default and the State would have to pay Steward a penalty of €100 mil- lion. Steward was accused by Adri- an Delia of wanting to leave the island, but not before picking up the €100 million cheque. Five years since he filed the case calling on the courts to rescind the privatisation deal, Delia too hopes he can reap the political benefits of the fall-out by claiming a political victory that has become all too rare for the Nationalist Party and the MPs that ousted him in 2020. Steward court decision red- letter day