Statement by Brian St John, former CEO of the Foundation for Medical Services
The prime minister, speaking yesterday at a Labour Party rally at some former music hall, said that he “might have photographs of Brian St John tearing up documents related to the hospital concrete”.
I read that and thought to myself, “The man has now taken to lying through suggestion, using that suggestion to defame others while leaving himself able to say that he didn’t say it was a fact, and frightening his victims with what he ‘might’ have on them that they don’t know about.”
In other words, he’s completely lost it. This is textbook Super One behaviour, the sort which Manuel Cuschieri specialised in and which Joseph Muscat used often when he was a reporter for that Labour Party radio/TV station.
But he is the prime minister.
Meanwhile, Brian St John, who is now CEO of the Nationalist Party (hence the targeting), has just released to the media the statement below.
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BRIAN ST JOHN’S STATEMENT
I have taken note of various reports in the media on the matter of the inquiry into the quality of concrete at Mater Dei Hospital and of public comments made by individuals in this regard, including by the Prime Minister and Minister Konrad Mizzi.
I regret that a certain section of the media appears to be driven by an agenda that is not entirely journalistic, while it appears that the Prime Minister and Minister Mizzi are more concerned with making innuendos and assertions in my regard.
For the record, therefore, I have no option but to make a number of points, reluctant as I am (unlike others) to pre-empt the findings of the Inquiry or of any eventual Court proceedings.
I joined the Foundation for Medical Services late in 2008. I was NOT involved in the choice of suppliers or the supervision of the building works of the hospital – which were completed long before I joined the Foundation. In particular, I was NOT involved in any way with the supply of concrete.
I was NOT involved in the certification of any building works.
I did NOT seek to conceal any papers concerning building works and in particular I did NOT place any documentation beyond anyone’s reach, in a safe to which I only had access or by any similar means. Indeed, I was to the best of my ability careful to ensure that all documentation was properly archived and preserved.
I did NOT and categorically deny tearing up any papers to do with this issue, or any other matter that has continuing relevance. The Prime Minister’s innuendo that this may have been part of a cover-up is entirely gratuitous and it is regrettable that a senior politician resorts to such tactics.
I did NOT recommend payment of monies retained from Skanska following the discovery of faults in the reservoirs near the A&E Department (reservoirs incidentally designed even before Skanska were given the added responsibility for design). The Board of FMS is minuted as having decided to effect this payment before the formal letter on my part requesting that said payment is made.
My involvement within the context of the project closure was NOT related to the quality of concrete, which was not even being discussed. Whether or not the “waiver” affects liability for faulty construction is not a matter about which I will comment, unlike others who have chosen potentially to prejudice any attempts to attribute liability to Skanska.
The above is a brief summary of the various points being discussed in the media and being referred to by the politicians. I have provided the Inquiry with as full a description as possible of my involvement and I am confident that my position is clear to the Inquiry, which will no doubt be reporting in due course on the most relevant matter in this case i.e., on who supplied the concrete under reference and who certified it as being fit for purpose.