Government criticism ‘a disgrace for democracy’

The criticism levelled by government’s speakers at the opposition for moving the censure motion on Carm Mifsud Bonnici was “a disgrace for democracy”. One MP had even described it as a “crime”.

Concluding the nine-sitting debate on the opposition’s motion, opposition Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon reiterated it was not true that he was apologetic when he moved it or that it was a case of opportunism. He 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.

He also denied that he had spoken against the police force. But he could not ignore what was wrong. Beppe Fenech Adami (PN) had attributed the exodus from the police force to job mobility. Yet, no one tried to hold an exit interview or try to persuade them to stay.

Dr Falzon said the Labour party 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 wasn’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 what the government was spending on the reform of 300 prisoners was just €40,000 while a consultant was paid €20,000?

It was a Council of Europe committee which had commented about drugs at the prison. On restorative justice, he said that it was only a few weeks ago that people who could qualify were sent a letter to apply. This was so when the Parole Board had not yet been appointed.

He asked to what extent community work was being used and also 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 met a wall of silence and this was shameful.

He also spoke about the Whistleblower Act, saying that the government had demonstrated its lack of belief in this act because it kept dragging its feet on it.

He criticised the government for talking of 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 still to do so.

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, Dr Falzon said.