Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon this evening concluded the nine-sitting debate on a censure motion on Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, reiterating much of the criticism he had made in his introduction.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Falzon said the government's speakers criticism of the opposition for moving this motion were a disgrace for democracy. One MP had even described the Opposition's motion as a 'crime'.
It was not true that he was apologetic when he moved this motion, and it was not true that this motion was a case of opportunism, Dr Falzon said. This motion was prepared in August but was not moved before December because the minister had been sick.
Dr Falzon said he had always appreciated the work done by the members of the Civil Protection Department. The prime minister had reacted to his remarks about a missing generator, but said nothing of the scandal of how a fire-fighting facility was transferred to a private company. No one said anything about an expensive tower ladder which was out of order.
As for the police force, Dr Falzon denied that he had spoken against the force. But he could not ignore what was wrong. Beppe Fenech Adami (PN) had attributed the exodus from the force to job mobility. Yet no one tried to hold an exit interview or try to persuade them to stay.
Dr Falzon said the PL would remain consistent in its promise to give trade union rights to the members of the uniformed services, in contrast to the dithering and inconsistency of the minister.
He reiterated his criticism that the police Prosecution Union had been dismantled, and then there were repeated mistakes in charge sheets.
Turning to illegal immigration, Dr Falzon reiterated that it was not the minister's fault that migrants came to Malta. The opposition was cooperating with the government in this sector because it was consistent. It still felt, however, that the government should have been more successful in persuading the EU to share the burden. Now it appeared that an intake was being made in the Detention Service without a call for applications.
Turning to the prisons, Dr Falzon again insisted that there isn't a single sniffer dog at the prisons. It was not true that the Opposition was against reform of the prisons, as Dr Fenech Adami had said. Wasn't it true that government spending on the reform of 300 prisoners was just €40,000 and a single consultant was paid €20,000?
It was a Council of Europe committee which had commented about drugs at the prison, Dr Falzon said.
On restorative justice, he said that it was only a few weeks ago that people who could qualify were sent a letter to apply. And this when the Parole Board had not yet been appointed.
He asked how much was community work being used and pointed out that there was still was no one listed on the Child Offenders Register.
On the Stephen Spiteri case, Dr Falzon said that the people involved had found a wall of silence and this was shameful.
He also spoke on the Whistleblower Act and said that the government had proven its lack of belief in this act, when it kept dragging its feet.
He criticised the government for speaking on psychological violence and said it was Labourites who were suffering from this. They suffered psychological violence at several instances, including during the referendum debate. And while the church had apologised for using religion in the time of Archbishop Gonzi, the PN had not.
Dr Falzon said that the motion was only aimed at seeing that political responsibility was shouldered. It was only moved because this was the Opposition's responsibility in a real democracy. Those who tried to undermine democracy should be ashamed, he said.