Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541179
ROBERT Abela and his justice minister came out on Monday claiming "victory" in the Stew- ard Health Care arbitration case decided by the Interna- tional Chamber of Commerce. The prime minister tried to set the narrative at a point when the judgment itself was not yet available to anyone but the Office of the Prime Minis- ter. The government finally pub- lished the 200-page ruling by the ICC on Friday following a briefing for journalists at Cas- tille. But a careful reading of the judgment tells a different story from the one peddled by the spin doctors at OPM, in- cluding the prime minister. It was disingenuous of Abela to claim victory, be it political or legal. Indeed, Article 1054 of the arbitration tribunal judgment states: "…overall, no clear winner emerges from this arbitration." In its final outcome, the tribu- nal ruled that after considering the claims made by Steward and the Maltese Government's counter claims, Malta would have to pay the now-bankrupt American company €4.8 mil- lion with interest. At a press conference on the day the judgment was deliv- ered (Monday, 3 November) Abela said the ruling vindi- cated his stand all along that the Opposition's claim that Steward stole €400 million was false. The ruling shows that the government did actually believe the Opposition's claim. YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2025 • ISSUE 1358 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY Adrian Delia maltatoday The Ta' Qali saga White Rocks Jonathan Henwood warns mass events could undo Ta' Qali's regeneration CONTINUES PAGE 6 Government sought €488m from Steward and lost €2.20 Adri Adrian Delia warns Malta's an Delia warns Malta's priorities risk worsening priorities risk worsening overcrowding, traffic, overcrowding, traffic, and spending and spending INTERVIEW MT2 CONTINUES PAGES 2-3 PAGE 9 Conservationist urges prime minister to safeguard White Rocks barracks PAGES 12-13 One flat, two contracts, a hidden charge RENTAL ABUSE: MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt KAMAL and his friends were sup- posed to pay €1,000 per month in rent for a Pieta flat, according to the lease agreement registered with the Housing Authority. But in reality, they paid €300 more each month because the man who rented out the apartment made them sign a separate, unof- ficial lease agreement. Kamal, not his real name, told MaltaToday that he and his five roommates used to pay their rent to two separate accounts—€1,000 was paid to the landlord listed in the official contract, while the re- maining €300 was sent to the Rev- olut account of the man, who act- ed as agent and manager. KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Robert Abela's victory at the arbitration tribunal is just spin. Malta lost its claim to recoup €488 million from Steward Prime Minister Robert Abela and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard