UPDATED: Inquiry into the loss of the Simshar

Ronnie Gauci

Jul 26th 2008, 22:01

(After reading J.Martinelli's comments) "Oh, finally, Labour is not to blame in here too." :)

Angie Farrugia

Jul 26th 2008, 21:05

I cannot stop from commenting again since this tragedy is so close to my heart as it takes me back to my father's accident, who went missing on the aircraft Piper Lance DH ABU. Whilst I congratulate the Minister for appointing an enquiring officer, I seriously hope that all the recommendations outlined in the enquiry are implemented. It is of no use to carry out an enquiry if the recommendations are not seriously implemented. The process of this enquiry will cause too much pain for the survivors of the victims and thus should be taken seriously, am speaking from personal experience. With regards to the search and rescue carried out by AFM, whilst I must say that they did the utmost with the resources they have, we do have to acknowledge that AFM has a long way to go to be able to respond more efficiently in crisis. I hope that the government does not wait for another tragedy similar to the SHIMSHAR or to the PIPER LANCE to invest more in the AFM. The lack of the political will to invest in the AFM to be able to respond efficiently in crisis situations is costing human lives.

Steph Camilleri

Jul 25th 2008, 00:10

Shouldn't there also be an inquiry into the Search and Rescue operations for the Simshar tragedy. There are some serious questions here which need answering for peace of mind for those that go far out at sea.

What about the over-populated fisheries department - why wasn't there surveillance on the VMS which could have detected the disappearance of the Simshar sooner?

J Martinelli

Jul 24th 2008, 21:08

I was not planning any comment at all on this sad story, but some opinions expressed here beg otherwise.
That the AFM is spread too thinly is a known fact.
That there MAY have been several shortcomings - is for the inquiry to find out and what remedies can be found.
To try to implicate politics is downright disgusting and achieves absolutely nothing.
What is ironic about all this, is the fact that the cost of the air and sea searches so far, more than exceed the combined salaries of several employees which the AFM sorely needs in their monitoring process. However (and the inquiry will prove this) it appears that even if the AFM or the fishermen helping with the search converged on the spot two days earlier, from what was reported, would have made very little difference as to the survival of the four men.
According to various reports, it appears that the four had died very shortly after the fire.
Again, bits and pieces of information will be handled by the inquiry and since there is a survivor much of the speculation will disappear.

We just hope that any recommendations will be followed up meticulously.

Joe Vella

Jul 24th 2008, 21:07

@ Albert Fenech

You know full well that the Vessel Monitoring System is there to monitor fishing vessels movement to ensure that they do not fish in prohibited areas; and as such, it is the reason that it is not monitored ona 24 hours basis. To suggest otherwise, and to preempt the enquiry headed by Dr . Anne Fenech is totally unaccceptable and inresponsible.

@ Chris Borg

Isn't the enquiry by Dr. Anne Fenech to do that exactly what you are suggesting and more.

Joanne Micallef

Jul 24th 2008, 20:10

Hopefully the inquiry will shed light on a few of the queries, unfortunately unless studies can be carried out on the wreck I doubt that we will ever find out what really happened out there, from what I saw on Bondi + there are alot of question marks, from all sides, not just the AFM.

One thing I am sure of, partisan politics should not feature in such a tragedy, if our AFM lack the resources needed for proper search and rescue operations, than it is us as a whole nation that will eventually suffer the consequences.

Matthew Borg

Jul 24th 2008, 18:57

@ Albert Fenech

You're obviously right in stating that "the Government and the Opposition represent the nation" - you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work that one out. However, your claim automatically induces that the government is responsible for everything. While it is clearly responsible in terms of an administrative role, it cannot be held responsible for the tragedy itself, which is something that Joe Sammut seems to be willing to imply in his comments! Politicising a tragedy is something that can only possibly cause more grief to the nation and, in particular, the mourning families.

Stating that certain comments "beggar belief" though is below the line - just because other people think in a different way to you, it doesn't mean that you're always right and they're always wrong. Well, I'm not surprised you said that - it seems to be typical of the majority of the things you write.

Having said that, I am not condemning the inquiries - both magisterial and investigative. However, these have to be carried out with the least publicity possible for obvious reasons. In the meantime, the Maltese should continue to show solidarity with both the Bugeja and Carabott families.

Max Farrugia

Jul 24th 2008, 18:33

It will,be very interested to learn what Sharon the wife of Simon have to say with regards to contacts with AFM. Also about the allegations in other interviews by Noel's Bugeja wife on the same subject.
M. Farrugia

Chris Borg

Jul 24th 2008, 17:40

@ George Axisa

FYI I am not a laborite.

The blinkers are worn by the people who are not seeing a pattern. Till before the election Gonzi had an almost untainted reputation but seems to be working to change that.

There should be an inquiry for the loss of the Simshar but there should also be one to find out why the AFM didn't carry out a successful search and rescue by using all the tools that are available to it.

Gonzi defended the AFM blindly trusting that they did all they could.

Chris Zammit

Jul 24th 2008, 17:35

Well done Dr. Gatt & Dr.Sammut!! This tragedy caused loss to families and sorrow in our village and also the country.

At least, I sincerely hope that if inquiry proofs that there were several shortcomings, which am convinced there were a lot, corrective measures are taken to ensure that these things NEVER happen again.

It is also very worrying to get to know that the AFM is very limited in resources, which brings me back to the unanswerable question of why, in this case the fishermen were not allowed to help in the search from day one??

ALBERT FENECH

Jul 24th 2008, 17:14

Once more the comments of some of your contributors beggars belief. Mr Matthew Borg askes "why politics has to enter into such a case..."

Well Mr. Borg, if as Joe Sammut alleges, the AFM does not have the required resources, and if the Fisheries Department has shortcomings (and they have already been admitted because the Head of the Department said publicly that the person who regularly monitors the Vessel Monitoring System was away on leave and therefore the system was not monitored properly), then this is the Government's responsibility, and it is the Opposition's responsibility to reveal these shortcomings. That is how democracy works believe it or not! This was a national tragedy and the nation is responsible. The Government and the Opposition represent the nation. Is that so difficult to work out?

Collective responsibility as a nation is something that we know very little about. Recently the head of Welsh Affairs in the British Government (an MP) resigned from his post. The reason - he had entered a pub smoking a cigarette and thus broken the law!!!!! Maltese politicians please note.

michael seyhell

Jul 24th 2008, 17:13

I will start by sending through your medium my condolences to the families concerned and to Marsaxlokk fishing comunity.

Whilst empathising with all those concerned in this great tragedy, I hope that the magesterial inquiry and the preliminary investigation headed by Dr. Ann Fenech will solve the mistery of how and why the boat was torn apart in pieces, when it is a known fact that deisel engines do not explode. Under normal circumstances one can state that this applies also to refrigirated equipment.

In my opinion rather than pointing fingers at different directions - and more so ending in turning such a tragedy in a poliotical ball game, as some commentators seems to be doing, we should refrain from making further comments and leave Magistrate Apap Bologna and Dr Fenech t o carry out their inquiries and investigations.

Michael Seychell

Alfred Farrugia

Jul 24th 2008, 17:11

It is unfortunate that the numerous search operations conducted between Sunday and Wednesday of last week did not produce any results, and that this tragedy had to take place a short time before the authorities, including the armed forces, were distracted with other pressing activities including a state visit, an industrial action by the transport sector, and the arrival of groups of illegal immigrants.

Can somebody explain what are the reddish/maroon objects seen on the top part of the boat in the photo? Why did the fishermen have to improvise rafts? Could they not make use of life jackets? Unfortunately, as is often the case, everybody is wiser after the event, which in this case happens to be tragic.

Matthew Borg

Jul 24th 2008, 16:56

Why politics has to enter into such a case, and why, according to Joe Sammut, the government should be held to blame, is beyond me. What a ridiculous sentiment... politicising a tragedy is by no means the right thing to do.

Franco Farrugia

Jul 24th 2008, 16:37

@ Mr Camilleri: I agree with you - Government is far too silent on the issue of illegal immigration. It is its duty not only to put pressure on the EU but for itself to ACT and not allow Frontex simply to escort illegal immigrants' boats into our harbours. (This is not to mean that I am in favour of leaving them stranded, when they are in difficulty at sea!).
I don't think it's funds that we need. I think it's a question of a proper Frontex and a diplomatic agreement between the EU and Libya. Unless Libya starts collaborating, the problem will not be resolved and you will have two alternatives: either save the people on the boats or let them die! Which will it be?
Labour is asked to offer solutions, of course, when it criticises on matters upon which the Government has few, if at all, solutions.
I have no idea what you want to mean by the term 'unity government'. I hope you don't mean a coalition. That makes no sense and is not needed because this Government was democratically elected on its own. Sorry: but that's the truth.

Mario Camilleri

Jul 24th 2008, 16:25

@ J Farrugia. What is it that labour should do regarding the illegal immigration? what are you suggesting? are you suggesting that labour should act on behalf of the maltese government to tackle this problem? as far as i know our government is remaining silent on this huge problem, but it is its duty and not labour's to make pressure on the EU so that urgent help & funds come our way. In this particular case there were many shortcomings from both sides but it's the government enquiry & the magisterial enquiry that must put some light on it. The labour party is just offering its valid contribution and i find nothing wrong with it. but i am noticing that many contributors are asking labour to offer ideas to solve problems. why no one is asking for a UNITY GOVERNMENT??....

Franco Farrugia

Jul 24th 2008, 16:17

@ George Axisa: I, for one, am no PN apologist, but in this case, I see no reason for one to apologise on behalf of the PN.
I rather, think, Mr Axisa, that it is really the case that people of your way of political thinking will clutch at any straw to put the Govt in a bad light, and in certain cases, I find that rather disgusting.

Franco Farrugia

Jul 24th 2008, 16:07

@ Chris Borg: In my opinion, after having read all that there was to read and seen on TV what there was to be seen on a particular programme, there have been shortcoming all along the way, not only in the AFM but even starting from at least one house in M'Xlokk. This is not the time and it is not up to me, to point fingers. But the whole thing stinks and it shows that there is much more to meet the eye that what has been said already.
And I have a feeling that much of what needs to be said, lies buried in the sea or has gone up in flames - and will remain a mystery.

George P. Axisa

Jul 24th 2008, 16:05

Why is it that whenever there is a mention in any report of a quote by a Labour spokesperson, it is like a bugle call for blinkered government apologists to crawl out and say their bit? Pity!

Chris Borg

Jul 24th 2008, 15:21

Gonzi stuck up for JPO, pretended to change MEPA, and now is not admitting to the AFM shortcomings.

Looks like he is losing credibility.

M.Spiteri

Jul 24th 2008, 15:07

Oh! Times are a-changing! Now can you believe it? 'the opposition was prepared to help government bring this matter before the competent EU authorities" - in days gone by the pope used to grant the 'Difensor Fideii' to Catholic Princes. I think I shall nominate Labour as 'Difensor Unionii'. Helping the government indeed! Do we really have to stuff politics into this Mr.Sammut? Let us mourn in peace - as a nation - for an unfortunate loss of life.

J Farrugia

Jul 24th 2008, 14:49

don't make us laugh Dr Sammut. Don't ridicule yoruself to make political mileage out of a tragedy. Shame on you.
Ther Opposition should not wait the government's go-ahead to help Malta out of its predicament with the illegal immigration problem. It should act not for the gallery but for Malta's national interest.

A Cassar

Jul 24th 2008, 14:35

IF IT RESULTED THAT THE COUNTRY WAS BEING BURDENED WITH MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN IT COULD SHOULDER!!!!!!!!!!!!! IS THERE ANY DOUBT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE?