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Malta’s Astonishing Financial Missteps: Where Millions Vanish and Medicines Gather Dust

Malta's Astonishing Financial Missteps: Where Millions Vanish and Medicines Gather Dust
by
May 22, 2023
in Finance News, NEWS Malta
255

In a riveting tale of financial misfortune, Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech has unleashed scathing criticism against the Maltese government for what he calls the reckless squandering of a mind-boggling €400 million in the annulled hospitals deal. To add insult to injury, Malta finds itself languishing at the bottom of the European rankings when it comes to acquiring new medicines—a true testament to the government’s extraordinary knack for misplaced priorities.

During an interview on party media, Grech spared no words in highlighting the plethora of problems that have plagued Prime Minister Robert Abela’s administration. In his sharp-witted analysis, Grech argued that Abela’s woes can largely be traced back to his own missteps and the lingering issues inherited from his predecessor, Joseph Muscat.

Drawing upon his vast well of political wisdom, Grech painted a bleak picture of Abela’s compromised position, suggesting that a “devilish pact” exists between the current prime minister and Muscat. According to Grech, Muscat holds Abela captive with a not-so-subtle warning: “Touch me, and I shall bring you down.”

Delving deeper into the labyrinth of alleged deceit, Grech revealed that Abela engaged in secretive negotiations with Steward Health Care to renew the hospitals’ concession shortly after assuming office. The irony, Grech pointed out, lies in the fact that Abela’s very first meeting at Castille was with Muscat and Steward—Muscat, the man who was allegedly accepting direct payments from Vitals, the original concessionaire. Oh, the tangled web of corruption and political alliances!

According to Grech, the government’s attempt to obfuscate and deceive the National Audit Office (NAO) during its investigation is a testament to its desperation. However, the NAO’s report still shines a light on the eleventh-hour abandonment of the renegotiation process due to the State Advocate’s concerns over potential legal challenges and breaches of procurement regulations. Grech took a moment to commend the brave members of the civil service who valiantly stood up to the government, preventing the disastrous deal from being inked. Their heroism shall forever be remembered.

Turning his attention to the mountain of cash frittered away, Grech highlighted the NAO’s findings that the €400 million paid to the concessionaires did not even include salaries. The money, it seems, vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of the promised investments. As a result, Malta’s health system languishes in a state of regression, lacking the cutting-edge equipment, tools, and medicines needed to provide quality care. Instead, the funds were seemingly diverted to luxurious hotels and fancy cars, further exacerbating the mockery of justice.

But wait, there’s more! In a stunning revelation, Grech unveiled the shocking truth that Malta holds the ignominious title of the country taking the longest to procure new medicines. The government’s proclivity for flippantly tossing away vast sums of money has resulted in Maltese citizens being saddled with generic or outdated medicines, instead of receiving the treatments that could truly improve their lives. Yet, the masterminds behind this financial fiasco—Joseph Muscat, Robert Abela, Chris Fearne, and Konrad Mizzi—continue to evade accountability, fully aware of the consequences of their actions.

Grech also delved into the government’s abysmal track record on fiscal responsibility, highlighting the near doubling of the country’s deficit since the Labour Party assumed power in 2013. He sarcastically questioned the previous boasts of a surplus, suggesting that it was the work of the previous Nationalist Party government. With a hint of irony, Grech pointed out that the deficit has now ballooned to a staggering €9 billion—a remarkable achievement, considering the lack of tangible results to show for it.

As the cost of living skyrockets, Grech scornfully dismissed Abela’s feeble attempts to blame external factors beyond his control. The government’s refusal to embrace the Nationalist Party’s proposals to address this issue only highlights their dearth of ideas. Grech cited financial assistance grants for importers and exporters, tax exemptions on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and fiscal incentives to help employers provide the COLA to workers as concrete steps to alleviate the burden. Alas, the government, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen to ignore these ideas while hypocritically accusing the opposition of being devoid of their own.

In this never-ending saga of financial mismanagement and broken promises, Bernard Grech remains a beacon of truth, striving to hold the government accountable for its actions.

Source: independent.com.mt

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