The Prime Minister yesterday called on the President and the Opposition to join forces with the government to address “worrying” cases of cyberbullying before it was too late.
He spoke in the wake of concerns raised after a 15-year-old girl was found dead at Dingli Cliffs after being reported missing last month.
A 23-year-old drama teacher is denying charges in connection with her death.
Addressing a political activity in Żurrieq, Joseph Muscat said that, as a parent, he shared some of the concerns expressed after the tragedy.
He lauded the Education Ministry’s measures to tighten controls on the qualification of teachers, remarking that the vast majority were dedicated and fully committed to their profession.
It is of utmost priority for the government to address this issue
Dr Muscat was concerned that peer pressure was forcing children and teenagers to use social networks, with the risk of being subjected to abuse.
In some cases, this was pushing children to the brink of suicide.
Banning such websites was not the solution but a three-pronged approach focusing on children, parents and a more active role by the State was needed instead.
Dr Muscat urged the Social Policy Ministry to collaborate with the Commissioner for Children, the Opposition and the President to come up with a system to support children vulnerable to cyberbullying.
“Though this might only involve a minority of families, I still believe it is of utmost priority for the government to address the issue,” he said.
Touching on the week’s events, Dr Muscat mentioned the government’s opposition to the planning authority’s one-year permit for oil rigs maintenance at the Freeport.
His outrage at this decision prompted the government to file an appeal, “for the first time ever”, and he said such actions would not be tolerated in future.
Dr Muscat said it would be a mistake “to cut corners in an attempt to do everything at once” and jobs that could only be carried out at the docks should not be allowed to take place at the Freeport.
He reiterated his pledge not to detain unaccompanied children reaching Malta on boats laden with asylum seekers. On the other hand, some 150 Nigerians who had not been granted refugee status would be deported following an agreement signed last week with the Nigerian government.
Dr Muscat referred to the new President saying that, in a matter of hours, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca had managed to unite the country behind her.
He criticised the Nationalist Party for launching an equal opportunities movement, saying it was the same party that was hesitating to back the Civil Unions Bill.
In a statement, the PN accused the Prime Minister of persisting in “half truths” and trying to take people for a ride with his “theatrics”. The party pointed out that the decision not to place children in detention centres had already been taken.