(Adds ministry's reply)

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) said today that it was objecting to the presence of former UHM General Secretary Gejtu Vella at meetings with the Health Department.

Mr Vella is serving as consultant for the ministry and is also a PN election candidate.

"The MUMN is informed that during meetings held between the Ministry of Health and Trade Unions, representing workers in the Health Sector, the Ministry of Health’s delegation now includes former UHM General Secretary, Mr Gejtu Vella, a candidate for the General Elections with the Nationalist Party.
MUMN cannot understand how the Health Ministry decided to “waste’ 22,000 euro from the Health budget through “consultancy” on a PN candidate when wards in Mt. Carmel Hospital which are in great need for a refurbishment, have no funds available," the MUMN said.

"MUMN would like to recall that the Health budget this year was already depleted by a further 8,000,000 euro but it seems for the Health Ministry “consultancy’ came before the need of the wards of Mt. Carmel Hospital.

"This is not a capricious decision on the part of MUMN. It is a decision following years of Mr. Gejtu Vella’s manoeuvres in attempting to weaken MUMN through poaching of our members into joining his former Union, the UHM," the union added.

GEJTU VELLA'S CONTRIBUTION 'VERY VALID' - MINISTRY

In a reply, the ministry said it appointed Gejtu Vella to give advice on industrial relations on the basis of his lengthy experience in such a sensitive sector.

It said Mr Vella enjoyed the trust of many people in the sector and his contribution in such matters was very valid.

Mr Pace’s allegations were unfounded as Mr Vella was working with unions to find practical and amicable solutions on issues brought up by workers and their representatives.

All the other unions already working with the ministry were proof of this.