Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515545
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt ISABELLE Bonnici, the mother of construction site victim Jean Paul Sofia, speaks about her struggle for justice and reform in the first episode of MaltaTo- day's new series, Vittmi tal-Ko- struzzjoni. Bonnici sat down with pre- senter Wayne Flask shortly after the Prime Minister's U-turn on a public inquiry into the death of her son. "He told me a Public Inquiry will not be started as long as he was Prime Minister," Bonnici recalls during the interview. She also speaks about how she felt when government MPs refused to vote for a public in- quiry following a motion by the Nationalist Party. 'Vittmi tal-Kostruzzjoni', pro- vides a platform for individuals affected by the construction in- dustry to share their stories. Hosted by Wayne Flask, the six-part series turns the cam- era towards those who have – through no fault of their own – suffered the most. "The interviews brought up feelings of anger, despair, but also of hope, and a cry for seri- ous reforms across the industry, as it did in all those who ac- cepted to be interviewed," Flask said. "The harrowing ordeals suffered or documented by the interviewees point at something more than a system that is 'rot- ten' – but that will ultimately be for the audience to judge." Drifting in and out of the con- versations, the series delves into accounts of cover-ups, lies, po- litical manoeuvring, mediocrity, inept authorities, false allega- tions, greed, and exploitation. Isabelle Bonnici on first episode of new MaltaToday docu-series Vittmi tal-Kostruzzjoni Delia blames population increase, economic model for Mater Dei delays Scan this QR code to watch the full episode on Facebook THE Nationalist Party has accused the government of being unable to cope with problems cropping up in Maltese healthcare, citing population increases as the main culprit for these problems. Shadow health minister Adrian Delia blamed the "large population increase and the government's economic mod- el" for the problems inside healthcare. "The government has stripped pa- tients of their dignity by hosting beds inside hospital corridors, in zones that are not considered to be hospi- tal wards, and even inside the hospital basement itself. These problems, cre- ated by the Labour government, have led to a large shortage of medicines and long waiting lists for medical tests," Delia said. Delia also cited the alleged €400 million spent on the Vitals-Steward hospitals' privatusation as having had repurcussions now being borne by pa- tients. "Despite Labour's promises, we have not advanced, but taken a mas- sive step back," Delia said. Delia added that delays in diagnosis tests, as well as 16,000 people waiting for an appointment or MRI, or CT scans, were compounded by Malta be- ing second from the bottom in a Euro- pean league on new medicines. "We are also reminding the govern- ment that never before has the need for a new mental health hospital been greater. The Mount Carmel hospital is not sufficiently accessible. Another unkept promise has been a new outpa- tients department, much as the north- ern hub clinic or the Mother and Baby Hospital remain unfulfilled." Shadow health minister Adrian Delia says national healthcare problems compounded by high population increase and economic model MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Adrian Delia (left) and Ian Vassallo Hagi