The Labour Government continues to "mock the people" regarding the Gozo hospital and is "failing further in terms of transparency and professionalism," the PN said.

In a statement signed by PN MPs Adrian Delia and Alex Borg, the PN said: "It is evident, even from the admissions of Minister Jo Etienne Abela himself, that yesterday's announcement was nothing more than a cosmetic exercise. The Government promised a new hospital in Gozo and stated that the first phase should be completed by March 2025. This hospital should have started long ago. However, this promise raises more doubts than certainties."

This was in reference to the announcement by Minister for Health and Active Aging, Jo Etienne Abela, who announced the initiation of the first phase of the development and regeneration project of the Gozo General Hospital on Monday afternoon.

The PN said that the promise of a new hospital in itself is an admission that, in the end, the hospital contract was never fulfilled in practice, not even legally. "The impact of this is now apparent. How can the Government be trusted to complete the first phase in five months when we do not even know how many phases there are, or how long each phase is meant to take? The first phase of how many?"

"Every infrastructure project in Malta requires planning permission. This is a basic fact. However, it seems the Planning Authority has no application before it for this project."

 "There is also no sign of tendering or project management on the Government's systems. It seems like a phantom project. The amateurish and mediocre manner in which the Gozo hospital is being announced is not only disrespectful to Gozitans, but it also clearly shows that this is nothing but smoke and mirrors, which bodes ill for everyone."

Gozitans and Maltese people who use the Gozo hospital are rightly fed up with the lack of a facility worthy of 2024, the PN said. "The Government has already deceived them once. One hopes this is not the second time."