Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today carried out a subtle defence of Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi, saying both men get results.
Speaking during an interview on One Radio and without making any particular reference to the Panama Papers scandal involving the two, Dr Muscat said that his chief of staff Keith Schembri was a target for the Nationalist Party because he got things done.
Speaking in the context of the recent investments announced by the government, Dr Muscat said these investments were part of a team effort.
He said Mr Schembri knew how to get things done and cut through bureaucracy.
Dr Muscat framed his defence of energy minister Konrad Mizzi in the context of comments made this week by the PN’s shadow minister for health Claudette Buttigieg.
Ms Buttigieg penned an article titled ‘Are more people sick under Labour?’ in response to a hospital activity report showing that admission are up at Mater Dei.
“Who do you trust, Claudette Buttigieg or Konrad Mizzi and Chris Fearne. It is a no-brainer. There has been a huge turnaround [in the health sector]… they get results,” Dr Muscat said.
The prime minister said the government would only be happy once waiting lists at the hospital have been eradicated.
He reminded that a consultation process was under way on a new patients’ charter.
One of the proposals in the charter was that patients would be able to seek free treatment at a private hospital if a pre-established maximum waiting time was exceeded at Mater Dei.
Turning to PN deputy leader Mario de Marco, Dr Muscat insisted that his explanation on the payment of works carried out by contractor Pierre Sladden was not credible.
Dr de Marco paid for the €34,000 in works following revelations that Mr Sladden held a company in the British Virgin Islands.
“He asked for the invoice after the Panama Papers revelations. It is not credible. The situation of Mario de Marco is not tenable.”
Dr Muscat reminded that the works were carried out while Dr de Marco was responsible for Mepa.
Dr de Marco has denied that the works were a gift.
The prime minister touted the government’s economic management credentials. Since Labour was elected, the deficit was reduced by half.
He reminded that government finances affected people’s everyday lives, saying that had the deficit not been reduced, income tax would have been increased and pensions reduced.
Dr Muscat also hit out at declarations by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil that the previous government was approached with a plan to build a gas-fired plant.
He questioned why the PN had made a mockery of Labour’s plan to reduce energy tariffs when it had similar plans in hand.
“Why was this plan not in the electoral manifesto?"
The only explanation was that the PN government wanted to keep on using oil, he said, while reminding of the oil procurement scandal.