The government continued spending money on the project despite knowing that it had exceeded the budget, he said. He said that some years ago the government had announced that the hospital would be open to the public a year ago and that it would cost some Lm83 million.

“They knew that things were not going according to plan when Dr Gonzi was Deputy-Prime Minister but they were not dealt with.” He said that he was sure the matter must have been brought up at cabinet level, adding that nobody seems to be responsible. “Who was responsible for health, “ he asked, “the people have the right to know how public funds are being spent, and demand accountability.”

Over the past four years Lm125 million have been spent on the Mater Dei Hospital construction alone, a figure that pales in comparison to the Lm1 million invested in St Luke’s hospital.

During the past four years the Maltese people had to put up with the introduction of new taxes such as the raise in VAT, from 15 to 18 per cent, and the introduction of five per cent VAT on food and medicines. The warnings given by the opposition that the contract signed with Skanska was faulty has now been proven right, he said, and the government’s mismanagement is coming to light.

Dr Mangion also mentioned the Freeport privatisation saying that the MLP expected the information related to the transaction to be tabled in parliament for scrutiny.