Government wants more time to show Vitals guarantee

Projects Malta is not yet in a position to provide Times of Malta with a copy of the €9 million performance guarantee Vitals Global Healthcare had to make within 30 days from signing a 30-year concession agreement. After the government agency refused to hand over a copy of the guarantee and to state which bank had provided the €9 million declaration as stipulated by the contract signed with the government in 2015, the Times of Malta made a request under the Freedom of Information Act. In a reply, Projects Malta, which falls under Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi’s political responsibility, said: “It needs to consult third parties before it can decide on this request and more time is needed to obtain the necessary feedback.” According to law, the agency must reply within 20 days. Read: Confusion reigns amid silence over Vitals' €9 million guarantee According to the concession agreement, Vitals had to make the performance guarantee and, in default, the agreement could be declared null. The concession agreement was for Vitals to run Karin Grech, St Luke's and Gozo General hospitals. When pressed on whether Vitals had, in fact, submitted the guarantee, Dr Mizzi had said it did, adding...