Sunday Editorials: St. Philip's Hospital acquisition and parliamentary saga

MaltaToday dedicates its editorial to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's revelation in parliament earlier this week that there no less than 12 other incidents where individuals, understood to be irregular immigrants, who allegedly 'fell' or 'jumped off' the bastion adjacent to the police HQ. It argues that, even were one to apply a best scenario outcome and interpret all 13 incidents as 'accidents', it would mean an indictment of the police administration for gross negligence, and would undermine the public faith in the police. It calls for an urgent explanation to justify how the Floriana Depot "has deteriorated into the health and safety equivalent of a black hole".

In its editorial, the Sunday Times insists on the importance of the recently-discussed pay increase for the Judiciary, emphasising that demands on judges and magistrates have increased over the years, despite how their remunerations did not. It criticises the Labour Party for opposing the reforms. It however subtly warns the judiciary that it must be aware of certain decisions that could undermine the credibility of the Justice system. It refers to the recent incarceration of a woman blamed for her 16-year-old son's refusal to see his father, as well as the ruling where a Mellieha man was let off the hook as he was found to have been provoked by being called 'gay'.

The Independent on Sunday discusses the question of parliamentary scrutiny over the St. Philip's Hospital acquisition deal, and notes that despite how the government was not legally obliged to submit the deal to parliamentary scrutiny, it is morally obliged to in the light of the questions raised, the government's track record on hospital management, and the fact that government-owned St Luke's is currently idly gathering dust. It argues that Government is unwilling to debate the deal before parliament because it is sure that the deal would not find a majority of support, and says that it accepted to have the deal scrutinised before the Public Accounts Committee because there it enjoys a majority. It speculates that the deal will "remain a source of bitter acrimony over the months to come."

The Illum's editorial raises questions about the lack of transparency and openness in Malta's administrative structures, and refers to how concerns were raised several times, in instances ranging from appointments to public positions, to appointments within the University of Malta. It argues that the Nationalist Government failed to deliver on its own promises to guarantee a transparent and open administration, and also criticises the practice whereby members of the judiciary are politically-appointed.

GWU-owned newspaper Torca launches an attack on Transport and Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, describing him as "the ugly face of this administration" and accuses him of arrogance, insensitivity, a nd lack of tact in his political and ministerial conduct. The editorial argues that his reputation as a "doer" is based on his practice of running roughshod over those who do not agree, and insists that each one of his reforms were inherently flawed, pointing to the Arriva reform, and the Smart City project.

Nationalist-owned newspaper il-mument, which appears under a large image of St. Philip's Hospital, defended the Government's track record on several issues, such as the hospital's acquisition deal, the Floriana carpark project, tourism performance, judiciary reform, and others by quoting from various sources, such as the MUMN, the GRTU, and MHRA, the Chamber of Advocates, the MAM, and the UHM. It insists that the Nationalist Government has been hard at work to improve the situation of the country, despite the international financial instability and a "disloyal Opposition". It insists that the Lawrence Gonzi is "a guarantee that government will genuinely keep working" and insists that facts speak louder than words.

Labour-owned newspaper Kullhadd criticises the Nationalist Government's recent behaviour in parliament, insisting that despite presenting a White Paper on Parliamentary Ethics, it disrespected parliament at every turn by ignoring the ongoing parliamentary crisis and turning the institution into a 'talking shop'. It also slams the government for thinking it has a divine right to rule, and claims that a situation where a parliamentary minority is able to impose its own agenda "is not far off from a dictatorship." It also slammed how Richard Cachia Caruana was allowed to retain the title of Ambassador, despite the no confidence vote in parliament which resulted in his resignation.