‘Investigate hidden hand’

Nationalist MP Franco Debono yesterday called on the country’s investigative authorities to see whether there was “a hidden hand” that was showing “certain zeal” to sign, seal and deliver the St Philip Hospital deal.

He said that if Minister Cassar was not aware of last Saturday’s Government announcement that it would go ahead with the acquisition of the hospital before Parliamentary scrutiny, then surely there was a hidden hand. Do we have a parallel system of power? Are there people acting as a smokescreen?

Frank Portelli had said that corruption was rampant. Did Dr Portelli have any information with which he was holding the Government to ransom? Why were no inquiries carried out? Everybody knew who Dr Portelli’s friend was and with whom he dined.

Earlier, Dr Debono said there was a fundamental difference between the motion he had presented and the Opposition’s request for the debate to be held with urgency, which did not require a vote to be taken. The Government was scared of a vote, even though the Prime Minister declared he had no problem with a discussion being held.

He said he had nothing but respect for Dr Portelli, but if he had financial problems the Government was not there to solve his problems.

The acquisition of St Philip’s Hospital was not the solution to the waiting-list problem, which should have been solved ages ago.

Things were currently very serious but the more one said the more things remained the same.

It was suspicious enough that an MP put forward a motion and this was ignored, but the authorities had to look into why such things were happening.

Dr Debono said Minister Cassar could not even provide a decent ambulance service; his work left a great deal to be desired.

He had pointed out that he had raised this matter in Parliament, but things could not stop there.

He appealed to the authorities to investigate because this was what the country needed.