DBRS confirms Malta A rating but warns on corruption
Morningstar DBRS, a global credit rating agency, has affirmed Malta’s “A (high)” rating. However, it highlighted that Malta’s corruption scores were lower compared to other EU countries. Malta’s ratings were assessed to have a “Stable” trend across all categories, indicating that the agency views the risks to Malta’s credit ratings as balanced. It also expresses concern that despite increased revenue, the country’s fiscal position has deteroriated. “Although the strong economic recovery bolstered government revenues, fiscal performance has deteriorated markedly in recent years on the back of still sizeable fiscal support measures,” the report states. (Maltatoday)
Foundation urges action against Keith Schembri
The police have just eight months to act on a criminal complaint filed by Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family in 2019 against Keith Schembri for breaching the Official Secrets Act and Secret Services Act. The Daphne Foundation stated that after Daphne’s assassination, Yorgen Fenech informed Schembri that he had commissioned her murder. Schembri reportedly reacted by becoming distant and telling Fenech, “you should have come to me before you did what you did.” This information is based on an audio recording seized by the police and rulings by four magistrates. Using his position as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Schembri allegedly obtained confidential information from the murder investigation and started sharing it with Fenech “within a week” of Daphne’s death, continuing to do so “consistently” and “in real time” for over two years, according to Fenech’s sworn testimony. (The Malta Independent)
Women compensated after gauze left in abdomen during op
A woman has been granted nearly €28,000 in compensation after surgeons accidentally left a surgical gauze inside her abdomen during a procedure at Mater Dei Hospital a decade ago. Mr Justice Toni Abela stated that while the court couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment the gauze was left behind, it led to an infection that needlessly prolonged her recovery. The court acknowledged the woman’s suffering, emphasizing that she couldn’t have caused the error herself. Antonia Bajada, aged 53, underwent elective hernia repair surgery in February 2014. Although the surgery was initially successful, she returned for readmission two weeks later due to delayed wound closure and ongoing pain. (Times of Malta)
