‘More information yet to emerge in Jean Paul Sofia case’ – Opposition Leader
Opposition leader Bernard Grech said Monday that “more information is yet to emerge” on the death of Jean Paul Sofia when a building under construction collapsed in Kordin last December.
Grech continues to insist that there is a need for a public inquiry to determine any faults, a call that the government is refusing.
“INDIS (the government’s industrial parks agency) is asking for the property back. This shows that there are other bad things that have yet to emerge on this story. In light of this fact, it becomes more evident that a public inquiry is necessary,” Grech said.
He said that the PN will continue supporting the victim’s mother’s cries for help because this “is the right thing to do.”
The institutions need to work for everyone alike, big and small. “I was just informed that outside Parliament, a ‘Justice for Jean Paul Sofia’ banner was hung up by the young man’s friends. I also learned that one of the friends was just arrested by the police,
which goes to show the priorities of the police commissioner and the attorney general,” Grech said.
“Life is priceless because you can never get it back,’ the Opposition leader said, before adding that the PL “ought to be ashamed of the fact that they were politicizing this sensitive issue.”
Grech also referred to the speech that had been delivered earlier by Planning Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. “I listened to Planning Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi’s speech wherein he mentions consultations and decisions taken by the PL, but he never once mentions the people who are negatively affected by the disruptive construction occurring in the country,” Grech said.
“When you call us arrogant, I tell you to be humble and listen to what others have to say.”
A few days ago Grech said he was speaking to a family who explained to him how they are forced to go to court in order to guarantee their safety and peace of mind. “Why? Because we have authorities and institutions that are not doing the work that they ought to be doing, causing people to feel helpless,” said Grech.
There have been instances of collusion and conspiracy between those who are supposed to be following the rules and those who enforce them. Again, this is the result of the PL being in power for the last 10 years; a party who favours the strong and ignores the weak, Grech said.
“Let’s be fair,” said Grech. “We are saying that this proposed regulatory law [that sees contractors requiring a licence to operate] is a move forward and the PN will be voting in favour of it in principle.”
But while it’s good to make laws, it’s also necessary to have the resources required to enforce them, and guarantee that all authorities involved fulfil their duty; otherwise these good laws will simply be circumvented, Grech said.
“When a tragedy occurs and people lose their lives, an investigation is always on the table. Words are frequently too cheap and when it comes down to taking action, the PL is scared to do what it needs to do,” said Grech.