When the PM underwent surgery

I refer to My Agenda by Norman Hamilton (January 17) wherein Mr Hamilton falsely claims that former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami underwent surgery in the US "in great secrecy".

This is absolutely false.

This surgical intervention was accompanied by a series of detailed Department of Information press releases indicating the pre-operative procedures as well as the outcome and progress made by Dr Fenech Adami after the surgical intervention.

For the record:

Press Release 1547 (November 12, 2000) states that: "The Prime Minister left Malta today for a private visit to the United States of America. He will be attending the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minneapolis for specialised medical tests on recommendation of his attending physicians, who include Mario Vassallo FRCP FACP. Dr Eddie Fenech Adami has had a persisting gastro-intestinal condition over the past weeks however, thorough investigations to date have proved inconclusive. At Rochester, Dr Fenech Adami will be visited by Prof. Michael Camilleri, a resident consultant gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic, where particular investigations, available in few specialised centres worldwide, have been programmed.

"Dr Fenech Adami is accompanied by his wife and his stay in Rochester is expected to last a few days..."

Press Release 1558 (November 14, 2000) said: "The Prime Minister, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, was today admitted to St Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, for surgical treatment of a small intestinal stricture. Dr Fenech Adami was being followed up at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, by Prof. Michael Camilleri, a consultant gastroenterologist at the clinic. The small intestinal stricture was diagnosed in the course of investigation and it was recommended to go ahead with surgical treatment, which involves laparoscopic small intestinal resection. Surgery has been programmed for the morning of Wednesday, November 15, and the recovery period, after which the Prime Minister can travel back to Malta, should be of one week".

Press Release 1568 (November 15, 2000), said that: "The Prime Minister, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, today underwent a surgical intervention at St Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota. The surgery, which involved laparoscopic resection of a benign small intestinal stricture, was performed by Michael Sarr and lasted just under two hours. Both procedure and recovery were uneventful and the medical team involved are very pleased with the outcome. Dr Fenech Adami is expected to spend the next few days at the St Francis Wing of St Mary's Hospital..."

Press Release 1574 (November 16, 2000) and press release 1588 (November 19, 2000) described the progress after the operation and the discharge from hospital.

These press releases can easily be accessed on the Department of Information's website .

It is only fair to ask the reason behind the fabrications in Mr Hamilton's article.