In the national interest, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat should shoot first and ask questions later if he truly was “angry and disgusted” with Wednesday night’s shooting incident.
He should waste no more time in demanding the immediate resignation of Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia.
If he refuses to step down, he should sack him.
The Prime Minister should recommend the dismissal of police constable Paul Sheehan, Dr Mallia’s driver/escort who, everything indicates, shot at a car after what the government termed as a “hit and run” incident.
He should also order a review of the police rules of engagement when using firearms and publish them for the sake of accountability. While he’s at it, the Prime Minister should also evaluate whether the position of the chief of staff at the Home Affairs Ministry, Silvio Scerri, is tenable.
We cannot have a situation where the man running what is perhaps the most sensitive ministry keeps making the headlines for all the wrong reasons
This country has had its fair share of violence but has, thankfully, grown out of it. But last Wednesday night’s incident rightly shocked any law-abiding citizen.
Unfortunately, the incident is only the latest in a series of controversial situations that Dr Mallia has been embroiled in. Let’s remember, Dr Mallia has quite a handful of key responsibilities, including defence, the armed forces, the police, airport security and correctional services.
If Dr Muscat wants to prove he is really angry and frustrated with what happened he should start by invoking Article 18 of the Police Act, which gives him the right – admittedly on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission – to remove a police officer in the public interest.
Suspension pending the outcome of a magisterial inquiry does not suffice in this case.
Incidentally, as a leading criminal lawyer, Dr Mallia ought to know that in such circumstances, a magisterial inquiry kicks in automatically and there is no need for his ministry – or any other ministry – to do so, as he gave the impression to try to prove how transparent his office is.
Nobody should be too concerned that the matter is given a political twist. There is no need for that. The matter is as political as it is an issue of law and order.
The forces of law have their duties and responsibilities but so do politicians. And those who err must pay for their mistakes, whoever they are and whatever their rank.
Apart from Dr Muscat and Dr Mallia, there is a third element in the equation: Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit. It was correct that he decided to suspend PC Sheehan, even if that decision should have come on Wednesday night rather than after Dr Mallia’s press conference on Thursday.
In line with the Police Act, the Police Commissioner has “the command, direction, management and superintendence of the force”. What happens within the force, therefore, reflects on him.
So it is in his interest that nobody – whether a member of the force itself or even a political master or his minions/ cronies – is allowed to cast a dark shadow.
That is the least the many officers who sometimes risk their own lives to serve society expect of him and deserve.
Wednesday’s incident should have never happened but, given Dr Mallia’s track record as minister responsible for the police, it is no surprise it did.
Dr Muscat must nip it in the bud and he should do so with guns blazing.