Watch: 'This does not end here', Delia vows on Steward deal
PN MP who led the charge against the concession says he is looking at legal options
Adrian Delia is not ruling out further legal action in connection with the failed Vitals-Steward concession to run three state hospitals.
The PN MP said he is exploring all legal avenues in light of an international arbitration decision that concluded Malta is not owed any damages by the now-bankrupt US healthcare giant.
He told Times of Malta that he is currently under “immense pressure” from the government “to try shut me up.”
In an interview on Il-Kazin, Delia said the matter “does not end here”.
“I’m not going to wait until we’re in government to do what I have to do. If I can legally do something more to ensure justice for the Maltese people, I will do it,” he said.
Elaborating on that pledge, Delia told Times of Malta that he is assessing his options.
“Of course, although the arbitration award has been published we are not privy to the evidence or lack of it, as highlighted in the award itself, which could have lead to this result,” he said.
“Government continued to make various dubious choices even after the Maltese court judgements. These all have to be evaluated carefully before making any decisions.”
Delia led the legal battle to have the hospitals concession declared illegal, and succeeded in doing so in 2023, when a civil court led by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti declared contracts arising from that concession null and void, because of signs Steward and top government officials had colluded against the national interest.
Steward subsequently turned to an international arbiter, the International Chamber of Commerce, seeking €148 million in termination benefits. Malta counter-sued and requested €488 million from Steward.
The ICC ruled that neither side was owed anything, as the civil court’s verdict meant both Malta and Steward had to be returned to their position before the concession deal was signed.