A right of reply letter was read publicly by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Azarel Ernesta, on Tuesday 31 March. It was read in the final minutes before adjournment of the Assembly session for the day. In reference to a statement made by Health Minister Marvin Fanny in the National Assembly, in the letter former health minister Peggy Vidot wrote:
“This is a falsehood and is an attack on my character and integrity. It has gravely injured my reputation with the public,”
Mrs Vidot refers to remarks made by Dr Fanny on 25 March 2026. The remarks were made during his right of reply on the Health Care Agency Repeal Bill 2026.
According to Mrs Vidot, Dr Fanny told the Assembly:
“…Secondly Mr Speaker, I want to put on record that I am not renting my house and have never rented my house with the Ministry of Health. And I am aware that my predecessor, Minister Vidot, rented her house with the Ministry of Health.”
Mrs Vidot writes that the manner in which the response was framed implied to the public that during her tenure as Minister of Health, she rented her house to the Ministry.
Mrs Vidot also states that the National Assembly should reflect the truth. She says it should not be used to accuse persons who are not present to defend themselves.
“I am sure, Madam Speaker, that you take seriously the responsibility of the National Assembly to reflect the truth, and that this august forum is not used to unfairly accuse persons who are not present to defend themselves,” she wrote.
In the letter, Mrs Vidot states that a house belonging to her husband was first rented to the Health Care Agency in January 2017. She says both were retired from public service at the time.
She writes that upon her appointment as Minister for Health in November 2020, her husband instructed the Health Care Agency to cancel the rental contract.
“Upon my appointment as Minister for Health in November 2020, I understood that the continued rental of the premises may be conflicting. In accordance, my husband wrote to the Health Care Agency instructing the cancellation of the rental contract,” she wrote.
Mrs Vidot states that this reflected her wish to avoid any implication of conflict of interest.
She also writes that the circumstances are on file within the ministry.
“I believe Minister Fanny is fully aware of the circumstances, as they stand on file within his Ministry. The statement was therefore deliberately misleading and unfair,” she wrote.
Mrs Vidot asks the Speaker to correct the allegation in the National Assembly.
“I trust in your understanding and sense of duty to correct this allegation in the National Assembly,” she wrote.