In a news conference some time before the motion was officially filed in Parliament, Dr Sant said this “national disaster” was costing the country and its taxpayers millions of liri. A few years ago, Health Minister Louis Deguara said the Mater Dei hospital was costing the government Lm83 million while now Dr Gonzi is saying it will cost Lm139 million – an increase of Lm50 million.

Dr Sant that the Lm43 million that will be spent this year brought the total cost of the project already up to Lm151 million. The cost therefore cannot be Lm139 million, as the government was saying, but was closer to the Lm216 million mark.

He said that over the years, Skanska could easily have changed its fees at any given time without any problems. Between 1996 and 1998, Skanska had offered the MLP the same contract, but the then Labour government decided against it.Dr Sant said the government’s lack of accountability on the Mater Dei hospital issue prompted the opposition to present this motion of no confidence in the government.

The motion states that while the MLP was wary of the need for the country to have a modern hospital where the Maltese can be given the best medical care, it was also aware of the fact that various Nationalist governments, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and Dr Gonzi, had spent millions of liri on the new hospital.

The motion said the party is worried about the design and build contract signed with Skanska Malta Joint Venture because the cost of this hospital kept increasing without limits. Moreover, it said, it believed that the government’s attempt to limit the hospital’s costs in recent days was a

measure that had been taken too late.

The motion continued that while noting that the total cost had increased from Lm83 million to Lm139 million, reaching the exorbitant figure of close to Lm216 million, it also noted that the opening date of the new hospital had moved from 2003 to 2007. It also repeated that the conclusion of negotiations with Skanska undertaken by the government in recent days was a moral and political defeat.

“Therefore the House of Representatives condemns the incompetent and inefficient manner in which the Nationalist Government has managed the Mater Dei national project and expresses no confidence in the government spearheaded by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi,” the motion concluded.

Dr Sant expressed hope that the motion will be discussed in parliament as soon as possible.