Pictures of `biohazardous` waste bags exhibited

A set of photographs showing yellow and green bags with the words "biohazardous waste to be disposed of by incineration" written on them were yesterday handed to a board of inquiry into allegations that human remains had been dumped at the Maghtab landfill.

The photographs were exhibited by the opposition`s spokesman for health, Michael Farrugia who had insisted on the inquiry in the wake of the allegations.

The board of inquiry is headed by Judge Victor Caruana Colombo and includes Prof. Maurice Cauchi and Dr Victor Borg Grech, representing the government and the opposition respectively.

Dr Farrugia told the public inquiry he had insisted with Health Minister Louis Deguara that the minister had been misinformed regarding the content of the bags and that they did contain biohazardous waste.

Dr Farrugia said he told the minister the bags might contain human parts. It was the minister`s responsibility to investigate the case and his to draw attention to it.

He said a few months ago residents of Bahar ic-Caghaq and Maghtab were claiming that items not meant to be dumped at the Maghtab landfill where being deposited there. He told them he needed some form of proof before he could do anything.

Some months later, Super One Television aired a programme entitled "Team" containing allegations about yellow and green bags being deposited at Maghtab. Dr Farrugia said he was contacted by several people about the subject but he decided to keep it quiet.

In another episode of "Team" a video recording of a van transporting animal remains from an abattoir to Maghtab was screened.

Meanwhile, Dr Deguara was asked about the origin of several yellow and green bags (picture) that had been deposited at Maghtab. These bags, Dr Farrugia explained, were originally intended for incineration.

Dr Deguara insisted the bags had been investigated and that it was not true that they contained human body parts.

But on February 22, 2002, Dr Deguara wrote an article on The Malta Independent in which he attacked the Super One programme "Team" and said they were trying to create a problem out of nothing.

Dr Farrugia wrote an article, in retaliation, published on the same newspaper on March 1, 2002. He wrote he had been informed that a person from St Luke`s Hospital had asked the people running the Maghtab landfill to prepare an area for the disposal of the yellow and green bags being sent from the hospital. The person also requested that the bags be then buried in rubble.

Dr Farrugia said he called on the Health Minister to investigate the case thoroughly and to find out what the yellow and green bags contained. Some time later the minister appointed experts to look into the matter.

Dr Farrugia exhibited a number of photographs given to him by a person he chose not to identify. The photographs, copies of which he also handed to the press, show black, yellow and green bags with the letters "DH" printed on them. The yellow and green bags also had the words "Biohazardous waste to be disposed of by incineration" written on them.

One photograph shows a yellow sharp-safe (a box for used syringes and needles) bearing the words "Danger. Contaminated sharps only to be incinerated". Another photograph shows a used drip still containing a coloured substance.

Dr Farrugia exhibited a permit to deposit hazardous waste at the Maghtab landfill, issued earlier this year. The permit, signed by environment engineer Andrew Vella, authorised the deposit of "waste from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans, whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements in view of the prevention of infection..."

Dr Farrugia explained that the photographs were taken before the permit was issued and that there was no distinction between yellow and green bags. They were both used by the hospital to dispose of hospital waste. This might include human parts, he added.

Dr Farrugia said he had no doubt that the bags deposited at the Maghtab landfill came from St Luke`s Hospital.

Earlier, the opposition`s spokesman for the environment, Joe Mizzi, said that after allegations were made that human body parts were being dumped at Maghtab a person, whom he did not identify, showed him a set of revealing photographs.

The photographs showed yellow and green bags belonging to the Department of Health and that had instructions on them saying they were to be incinerated.

"One of the photographs showed a bag, I don`t recall if it was yellow or green, that was torn open. Through the tear I could see what seemed to be a piece of flesh and a black substance which I believe was dried blood. There also were gauzes, cotton wool and things of the sort.

"I`m not sure if what I saw was part of a human body... but I felt disgusted at the sight of it," Mr Mizzi said.

He said the person who showed him the photographs had told him they were taken at Maghtab and the photographs themselves suggested it. He said the person had indicated the bags were from St Luke`s Hospital and from private hospitals and clinics.

Mr Mizzi said he had only seen the photographs of the bags but had not seen the bags themselves.

The inquiry continues on June 11.