Hyzler rebuts Labour allegations on Qormi health centre

Parliamentary Secretary George Hyzler has denied that the application to build an elderly people’s home above the Qormi Health Centre was made behind the health minister’s back as claimed by the Labour Opposition.

Dr Hyzler explained that the application was for an extension of three storeys to the existent building. The Qormi lawyer added that the health minister was consulted before the application was filed.

Dr Hyzler insisted that the site plans attached to the application made public by Labour MP Charles Buhagiar indicate that the idea is to build a home for the elderly above the airspace of the Qormi Health Centre without jeopardising the services offered at present by the health centre.

Dr Hyzler said that the original proposal for the construction of an old people’s home dates back to 1995/96 when he had asked for a piece of land adjacent to the health centre to be transferred to him for the purpose.

The founders of the foundation that was to undertake the construction of the home at the time were Magistrate Silvio Meli, MP Lino Spiteri and George Hyzler Snr. The initiative fell through after the land, which belonged to the Church was transferred to third parties.

Dr Hyzler said that the renewed initiative is a continuation of the proposal made seven years ago. He explained that the involvement of a private contractor to construct the home was a result of government’s declared policy in favour of public-private partnerships.

Dr Hyzler added that government would not have to spend any money to construct the home while the building would become government property having been built on government land.

The parliamentary secretary remarked that he could not understand why some people wanted to torpedo the initiative, which was of benefit to the Qormi community.