Updated 1.50pm - Added Labour reaction

Chris Fearne and Joseph Muscat know why Vitals Global Healthcare were brought over and then allowed to leave three years into hospital privatisation deal but cannot speak about it, PN leader Adrian Delia said on Sunday morning.

 “How can the government boast that Malta has earned hundreds of millions of euros through the Individual Investor Programme and ran a surplus, but then has no money for the health sector?”

Addressing party supporters at Ażad offices in Valletta, Dr Delia asked why “people whom we know nothing about” were brought over to take over three state hospitals, when Malta had some of the best health professionals.

“This was a total admission that we had neither money, nor a plan, so we brought over someone whom we don’t know,” he said, adding that the government was not being honest about the deal.

READ: Government plays for time before showing Vitals guarantee

“Health Minister Fearne and Prime Minister Muscat know why Vitals Global Healthcare were brought over, and allowed to leave after being handed over €60 million, but they cannot speak about it,” Mr Delia said.

Crime concerns

In his address, Mr Delia insisted that politicians have to be close to the electorate, not to ask for their vote but to understand their pain and concerns.

The only way you can bring change in people’s lives is if you know what they are feeling, he said, referring to recent Eurobarometer data, which showed that the most pressing problem for the Maltese is crime.

Issued in December, the figures show that 46 per cent are worried about crime – the highest percentage in Europe - followed by immigration and the environment.

Dr Delia said that people were concerned about crime as they had lost trust in the police force and no longer believed that the government was committed in order and justice.

Rather than being negative, the Opposition was being responsible by addressing the issue.

READ: Trust in justice system is in freefall

You cannot resolve the problem if you do not acknowledge and understand it, but this government does not want to listen to anyone, he added.

“We are in a situation where the elderly are scared to stay in their own homes. There are localities were it is no longer safe for our children to roam streets.

“We were once the friendliest and happiest country in the world – where did this all go,” he asked.

We were now living in a country that was reigned by money and consumerism, where people have to be close to the government in order not to lose everything, Me Delia said.

Migration and property prices

The PN leader also referred to concerns about migration, which he said was not an issue of racism, but rather lack of preparedness by the government.

The government, he said, had decided to open the doors to property development – which had seen a sudden influx of foreigners, and as a consequence, an increase in rent prices.

These foreigners were not brought over to Malta as part of a plan for specific sectors, but were here competing with the Maltese for jobs of the poorest levels, he said.

Dr Delia also referred to Malta’s reputation, which he said the government has “managed to destroy” in less than five years.

“This government was dry of ideas and was only thinking of the welfare of the few close people. It sold our country’s sovereignty - our citizenship.”

'Delia's words betray his arrogance' - Labour

The Labour Party immediately pounced on Dr Delia's speech, saying he had "arrogantly" insisted that the PN could never lose because it was the party with values. 

"Every declaration which pins the blame for electoral defeats on the Maltese people is nothing more than a sign of arrogance," the party said.