One of Malta’s foremost philanthropists, ALS sufferer Bjorn Formosa, has sought to end the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s announcement last night that €5 million generated from the sale-of-citizenship scheme will be donated to Puttinu Cares for the construction of new apartments for cancer patients in London.

“One may have his opinion and may agree or not with this administration but we have to admit that rarely we have seen such initiatives being backed so strongly by the government,” Formosa wrote. “But that is a good thing because when the people speak, the government must be there to listen and if necessary give his FULL support. We need to put politics aside! Many may argue that the government may take political advantage from the live announcement on Malta’s most followed TV programme but that’s not really important. The only important thing is that there are kids with cancer and families who will find adequate care and accommodation to deal with their immense suffering. What is important is that when you and I will be in need, we will find the adequate care.” 

“The Government must be there many more times on Xarabank to give its backup to many more initiatives, to help all fellow countrymen. This time we have tackled cancer, next time it will be neurological conditions, autism and many more! May many more organisations and people of good faith come forward with their initiatives to help improve sufferers quality of life!”

“It’s not about blue, red, green and orange. It’s all about HUMANITY and about delivering help to those in need!”

Joseph Muscat’s announcement on Xarabank last night sparked a political controversy. Opposition leader Adrian Delia said the government should view the treatment of cancer patients as a duty and not as charity, while his predecessor Simon Busuttil said the treatment of cancer patients should not come at the cost of the country “selling our soul”. 

Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami, himself a cancer survivor, said he felt “insulted and disgusted at Muscat’s message that cancer victims can only be helped through the sale of Maltese passports to the criminal and the corrupt”.

“Even Toto Riina, the Sicilian Mafia King, had carried out acts of charity from ill-earned money.”

Partit Demokratiku leader Anthony Buttigieg called Muscat’s move “an insult to people’s intelligence” and Opposition MP compared it to the acts of charity that were funded by Narcos king Pablo Escobar. 

What do you make of the Prime Minister’s announcement last night? 

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Tim Diacono

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]