Former police commissioner must be sacked, investigated

Prime Minister Robert Abela has to dismiss Former Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar from his position today and investigate him tomorrow, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said.

Delia was being interviewed by PN journalist Dione Borg, who referred to the claims that Cutajar could have tipped off middleman Melvin Theuma about his impending arrest.

Delia said that the government is stating that it is in the final process of appointing a new police commissioner, but at the same time the media is revealing shocking information about what was going on within the police force.

Delia was asked how the Opposition will guarantee that Malta will have a new police commissioner who will protect the public.

Delia remarked that, “with Robert Abela as Prime Minister, we cannot guarantee that society will be protected.”

He said that, “those who are supposed to protect the people from criminals and keep society safe are protecting the criminals instead, thus they are criminals themselves.”

“Abela should remove the former commissioner today and not tomorrow,” Delia said.

Delia said that the government will be announcing another budget on Monday but, at the same time, it has cut aid to vulnerable people, thus impacting certain people negatively.

“What the government has been saying on this matter is very confusing and uncertain, thus I am unsure of what to expect tomorrow. The government first stated that a mini budget will be announced, but it seems that it has changed its mind, now saying that another package will be issued,” he said.

Delia questioned whether the government knows where it is going, knows what it wants and knows the direction it wants to take the country in. He added that, “the sense of uncertainty by the government created by the pandemic was already enough, and instead of reassuring that as a country we will get back on our feet, the uncertainty has further increased as there is a lack of leadership and decisiveness.”

Delia was also asked whether Maltese businesses will manage to keep operating properly once the government stops giving aid.

He said that, instead of looking ahead and presenting a roadmap, the government is taking rash decisions and does not seem to be aware that thousands of people are struggling. “Thus, if the aid is removed, the situation will be far worse.”

Delia said that, step by step, the PN is working on organizing and building the party even further. “We are increasing the number of people who are participating and who all have a clear direction in mind in order to continue improving our country with courage and determination.”

Borg mentioned a debate that took place in Parliament on Wednesday where Delia presented an NSO report “which clearly says that, during April 2020, the seasonally adjusted number of unemployed persons was 10,816 but the government is treating 7,000 of the total as if they don’t exist.”

Delia said it seems that the government is saying this to try to play down the problem.

The Opposition would see how it can help these 7,000 people, rather than acting as if they did not exist, he said.

Delia also spoke on migration, saying that the government had not answered his questions on the PM’s recent visit to Libya.

He said the decision taken by government on Saturday night was “populist and dangerous,” not only for the migrants on board the vessels but also for the crew members on board.

He added that every life is important for him and every life should be safeguarded, however, the Prime Minister “chose to risk more lives to play a game and took a populist position.”

“We have worked with our European partners and, although a plan has not arrived yet, there is one.”

He added that, “the government seems to think that the solution can only be found in Libya, however, it is evident that a solution was not achieved.”

Delia said that he has proposed the solution, however, the Government needs to push it further. “We must be merciful with those who are in imminent danger, be hard on those who have no rights to asylum and strict with traffickers.”