MHRA sees ‘increase in violence and accidents related to drug abuse’
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said on Wednesday that it is seeing an increase in violence and accidents related to drug abuse, and is calling for a national debate to raise awareness.
The MHRA was referring to the death of a 30-year-old Turkish woman who was killed in Msida in the early hours of Wednesday after being run over by a car, with the latter also causing considerable damage to a restaurant nearby.
The MHRA said that it is shocked to see the dynamics of this accident, in particular the alleged aggressive behaviour of the driver who, according to what’s being reported in the media, was under the influence of drugs.
First and foremost, MHRA expresses condolences to the family and friends of the victim in this tragedy and expresses solidarity with them, as well as with the restaurant and other business establishments who have suffered considerable damages to their properties.
The MHRA also expressed solidarity with the police officers and passers-by who intervened to assist in this situation, and who were allegedly threatened by the driver of the car involved in the tragedy.
Without prejudice to this case, MHRA said that it is seriously concerned about what seems to be an increase in violence and accidents related to drug abuse in our community. Drugs are a curse to a healthy society and economy, and must be addressed with the highest sense of urgency by the relevant authorities to avoid experiencing a drug epidemic, it said.
The MHRA believes that there are enough indicators that merit a national debate to raise awareness about the issue, as well as significantly increase action in curbing the use of illicit drugs across society, which it said is probably one of the main causes of mental health issues with all of its negative repercussions.
Towards this end, MHRA is calling the council of MCESD to discuss this issue as urgent matters, and to form a joint opinion accordingly for the consideration of Government in turn.