Opposition leader Bernard Grech has called for the resignation of several sitting government ministers and for Prime Minister Robert Abela to “shoulder responsibility” in the wake of the findings of a public inquiry into the death of construction worker Jean Paul Sofia in 2022.
At a Wednesday parliamentary debate, Grech questioned Abela’s commitments to “widespread and transparent reform.” The inquiry, published on Wednesday morning, called for the state to shoulder responsibility “as it failed to recognise the confusion in its own executive,” resulting in a “comedy of errors.”
Sofia was killed in December 2022 at what was to be a timber factory built on government land granted by government agencies Malta Enterprise and INDIS to Maltese developers with a criminal past having connections to the Lands Authority.
In his speech, Grech called for the resignation of Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi formerly responsible for planning, Minister Miriam Dalli, formerly responsible for Malta Enterprise, and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri.
He questioned how they could continue as ministers and asked them to “shoulder political responsibility.”
Similarly, he called for Abela to shoulder responsibility, questioning his commitment to reform the industry. He noted Abela’s vehement opposition to the public inquiry.
The public inquiry was launched in a U-turn decision last July only after widespread calls from Sofia’s family and the public. At the time, Abela had said it would hinder the search for truth.
Abela pledged several immediate “transparent and widespread” reforms, which included a centralised phone helpline for construction-related reports, an upheaval of “outdated” Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, and audits.
In a press conference ahead of the debate, Abela also called for the resignation of officials highlighted in the inquiry. He did not name any persons responsible and failed to fire or request the resignation of particular officials.
OHSA Chair David Xuereb has committed to resigning from his post, while Minister Silvio Schembri has claimed others from the economy minister have noted their intention to resign.
For sure everyone knows the picture when Abela tried to flee from Malta on a Yacht last year when the flames 🔥 got too high.
Now there is only one Exit for him:
He has to step down maybe with decency.
Quite frankly, he messed up everything. Even the Hospital deal he handled more like an Amateur than like the Premier Minister of Malta 🇲🇹.
You do understand the hospital ‘deal’ was only ever intended to make a few pigs richer? Job done exactly as intended.
I hope there will be no golden handshakes for resigning in shame. This goes also for the ministers and MPs.
Plenty of bluster and crocodile tears. Rinse and repeat after every inquiry.
The government has failed, but who put these people in charge of these offices?
I hope that people open their eyes and I hope that this mother doesn’t stop until she gets the justice she deserves, because this government’s tactic is to take its time thinking that people will forget or get tired.
The gahans who put them in office don’t care. As for opening their eyes they can already see – they just get paid to keep quiet and it doesn’t take much to pay fools.