Over the past few days more details on the Vitals contract have emerged. With each revelation the stench emanating from this deal grows stronger and stronger. If one had to be kind, one would say that the people who negotiated this contract on our behalf were incompetent.

However, all indications point to a sin which is much graver than incompetence. There are strong signs of corruption.

We can only know the truth if the police or the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit carries out their duty, but I for one am not holding my breath. These entities exist to protect the common citizen but sadly seem keener on protecting the Prime Minister and his inner circle.

The same can be said for the Ministry of Finance.

The Vitals deal was promoted by the government as a public-private partnership. According to the Ministry of Finance’s own website, one of the core responsibilities of this ministry is to review the developments relating to the Public-Private Partnership Programme. Given such a responsibility it is pertinent to address a few questions to the ministry, which has been conspicuous by its silence as this saga unfolds.

Did the Ministry of Finance at any stage review the Vitals deal? Did the ministry bother to find out who the ultimate owners of Vitals were? Did it know that a memorandum of understanding was signed with Vitals before the selection process was under way? Was the Ministry of Finance aware that Vitals did not have the requisite experience and financial standing to merit their selection?

Was the ministry involved at any stage in the due diligence that was carried out on Vitals and its owners? Was the ministry consulted on the terms of the contract, terms which gave Vitals a no-risk deal?

Was the ministry aware that Vitals paid €1 for the assets contained in the three hospitals? Was the Ministry of Finance aware that Vitals was not honouring its contractual obligations?

Did the ministry sanction the payment of more than €50 million to Vitals despite it failing to achieve any of its contractual milestones? Was the ministry involved in the go-ahead to Vitals to sell to a third party its interest in the government contract even though it was in clear default?

Was the ministry aware that the procurement of supplies by Vitals was subcontracted to a company in circumstances that would point to insider dealings?

What is the ministry doing now that the facts surrounding this deal are being made public? What steps are being taken by the ministry to protect the taxpayer? What steps are being taken to recover the monies paid to Vitals? What steps are being taken to investigate the incompetence or corruption that led to this sorry situation?

The Ministry of Finance is doinga Nero, playing the fiddle while three of our public hospitals burn

The Ministry of Finance is doing a Nero, playing the fiddle while three of our public hospitals burn.

The minister has already failed the test on other occasions. Edward Scicluna stood by while Malta’s reputation as a financial centre of repute was dragged through the mud. He failed to take a stand when one FIAU report after another was ignored. He supported his Cabinet colleague Konrad Mizzi, the minister who was found to have secret financial structures in obscure offshore havens.

Scicluna did nothing to stop his colleagues from recklessly pushing up the day-to-day cost of running the government. Recurrent costs under Scicluna increased at much faster rates than under previous administrations. Conversely, in the last two years, capital expenditure was slashed, to the detriment of our country’s infrastructure. The lack of investment was picked up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF last week called on the government to reduce recurrent expenditure and invest the savings in capital projects, the exact opposite of what happened under Scicluna’s watch. The IMF also called on Scicluna to achieve fiscal consolidation without relying on the IIP revenues.

The truth is that without the monies from the sale of citizenship, government finances would be in the red. Are we obliged as a country to keep on selling citizenship to support our day-to-day needs?

Scicluna has yet another opportunity to stand up and be counted. As the minister responsible for raising government revenue, he is obliged to ensure that the taxpayers’ monies are spent judiciously.

The Vitals deal is a slap in the face to the Maltese taxpayer. Scicluna can yet again choose to defend his colleague Konrad Mizzi or he can do his duty and pull out all the stops to protect the taxpayer.

Allowing Vitals to sell the contract is not and cannot be the solution. The deal must be stopped and those at fault made to pay for their mistakes. Whoever they are.

Qui tacet consentire: silence means consent. This maxim may not apply to all situations but it is certainly true in the political world. By standing by and saying nothing, Scicluna is making himself an accomplice in the rape of our public health institutions.

He is aiding and abetting the delinquents who are robbing the taxpayer.

Maybe Scicluna is eyeing a quiet exit in two years’ time when the President’s term runs out? Whatever the case, one thing we know for sure. The effects of his inability or unwillingness to stand up and be counted are going to be carried by the Maltese taxpayer for years to come.

Mario de Marco is a Nationalist Party MP.