Recommendations regarding injustices

Several letters appear in the press from time to time written by people who in the past suffered injustices. They have every reason to do so because in a democratic country like Malta such matters should have been put right long ago. MPs from both sides of the House have tabled parliamentary questions on the subject. Time has passed and many who suffered an injustice are still holding on to their written recommendation.

Following this, over 16 months ago a Select Committee of the House was set up to strengthen democracy in Malta. This committee was expected to see to it that pending cases of injustices are solved and should have submitted a report about unsolved cases by the end of October 2008.

To date, 15 months later, nobody has heard anything from them. By all means both Labourites and Nationalists have suffered injustices. So when will pending recommendations made against the government by the Injustices Commission, tribunals and the Office of the Ombudsman, be carried out and redress given for the injustices suffered?

Just before Parliament rose for the recent Christmas recess, the Prime Minister, replying to a parliamentary question, said there have been some developments. Replying after the recess to another parliamentary question about the subject, the Deputy Prime Minister said that pending cases regarding injustices were not discussed by a Select Committee but somewhere else.

It is about time that whoever suffered an injustice receives compensation. Do the people not have a right to know what the "developments" referred to by the Prime Minister are?

Which MP will have the courage to ask the government to indicate what stage the talks on the implementation of recommendations regarding injustices have reached?

Although those citizens who were left with the recommendations are only a small minority, I think they are entitled to be given their due.

Will the opposition consider tabling a motion in Parliament to discuss this matter of outstanding recommendations?

Now is the time to do away with empty words and the opposition should bring pressure to bear on the government so everyone gets their due. On the other hand, if the government is not prepared to do this, then the opposition should stop co-operating with the government on any legislation, except in cases of national importance.