October 1996: The new Labour government immediately commissions reports in order to be in a position to take decisions about the hospital. From the reports the following was concluded:
a. A new medical brief had to be prepared.
b. The concept of the hospital had to change from that of a specialised hospital of 450 beds to an acute general hospital of 800 to 1,000 beds. This hospital had to replace St Luke’s Hospital.
c. The contract of Ortesa Spa had to be terminated and a new tender was to be issued.
d. Skanska Malta JV had to continue the works on the existing footprint of the hospital from the designs of the original plans (those of the San Raffaele Hospital). Minister Michael Farrugia, in reply to PQ 11438 says that this was a cabinet decision and the additional cost is estimated at Lm2 million.
6 December 1996: A new (provisional) FMSS board is appointed. Mario Cacciottolo was appointed president, Joe Barbara and Alfred Vella were appointed as board members. This board was dissolved on 15 July 1997.
March 1997: FMSS commissions MSD Consultancy to quantify claims against MTF. According to this report the value of potential claims against MTF as at March 1997 was Lm9,120,046.
11 April 1997: The FMSS was instructed to request the Monte Tabor Foundation’s local representatives not to report on site and the locks of the FMS offices used by the MTF were changed.
23 April 1997: Dr Giovanni Bonello, on behalf of the MTF, alleged the unilateral termination of various agreements by FMSS and wrote that termination must be properly grounded and clearly expressed. He also alleged that the eviction of MTF from their offices was tantamount to an act of spoliation.
30 April 1997: Dr Richard Camilleri, on behalf of the FMSS, alleged that the accusation of spoliation was unfounded and that it was the MTF which unilaterally terminated the contracts in question, and which had already been practically abandoned.
The FMSS had sufficient grounds to proceed with termination of all relevant contracts in accordance with their terms and therefore, in the existing circumstances, the government accepted termination by MTF. The FMSS reserved the right in respect of any damages suffered or which may be suffered as a result of MTF’s actions or omissions.
21 July 1997: A new FMSS board was appointed with Alfred Sladden as president (resigned 19 February 1999), Joe Bugeja as vice-president, Joseph Buttigieg; Joseph Portelli, John Cachia (resigned 19 February 1999), John Bonnici, Vince Cassar (resigned 19 February 1999), Saviour Gauci, Joseph Saliba (resigned 19 February 1999) and David Spiteri Gingell.
8 January 1998: The MTF president, Rev. Luigi Verze informed the FMS that a meeting of the MTF was held in Milan on 14 November 1997. He also requested the FMS to nominate their member on the MTF.
Moreover the president of MTF reminded FMSS that a sum of Lm365,764 was still pending.
16 February 1998: In reply to PQ 12301 made by Jesmond Mugliett, Minister Michael Farrugia said that the total construction cost of the New Hospital Project is Lm100 million.
March 1998: The constitution of the Foundation for Medical Sciences and Services was amended and the foundation split into two separate organisations. The Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) which retained responsibility for the health sector services and the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) which took over Social Welfare Services.
July 1998: Norman & Dawbarn were chosen as the new designers for the new hospital.
Minister Michael Farrugia would later confirm, in a reply to PQ 14624 that the tender offer of Norman & Dawbarn was not the cheapest bid.
5 September 1998: The Nationalist Party is returned to power.
(Continues tomorrow)