OHSA And Malta Enterprise Officials Resign Following Jean Paul Sofia Public Inquiry
The Malta Enterprise deputy chair, the Malta Enterprise director, and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) chair have all begun tendering their resignations following the publication of the public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s death.
Malta Enterprise’s deputy chairperson Peter Borg resigned yesterday while director Victor Carachi did so today, according to Times of Malta. Borg chaired the committee that approved the project.
Borg has since opened up on his decision to resign, saying there were points he felt are “important to put out for the public record”.
Carachi, who is also the president of the General Workers’ Union, maintains that he was not present when the decision to approve the Corradino factory was made but has stuck by his decision to step down, calling it a matter of ethics.
Meanwhile, OHSA chairman David Xuereb has also tendered his resignation following the finalisation and publication of the inquiry report which named him as one of the state entity officials who should reconsider their positions.
Lobbyist and president of the Chamber of SMEs Paul Abela is also expected to resign. He sat on the same committee as Borg.
The public inquiry was highly critical of Malta Enterprise, stating that the five-member investment committee did not sufficiently scrutinise the proposal and that its decision-making process lacked transparency.
These decisions come after Prime Minister Robert Abela said he expected all CEOs and chairpersons singled out in the report to step down.
The Corradino factory project was approved in Spring of 2019 and it was signed over to developers by INDIS in February the following year.
On 3rd December 2022, the factory collapsed while still under construction and Jean Paul was killed.
Moreover, after a national outburst at the government’s rejection of a public inquiry into the conditions that led to his death, Abela U-turned and announced one.
Yesterday, the inquiry report carried out by Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, Auditor General Charles Deguara, and architect Mario Cassar was published, concluding that the 20-year-old’s death was caused by an unregulated construction industry and stating that the government should shoulder responsibility.
Opposition Leader Bernard Grech called for the resignation of Abela, Economy Minister Silvio Schembri, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, and Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.
Who else do you think should resign?
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