The report suggested a possible link between these failures and multiple deaths, including suicides, that occurred within the prison system.

Government Whip Naomi Cachia also rejected the request, stating that under Standing Order 13, the matter was neither definite nor urgent. The government, she said, would not support the debate.

Before Speaker Farrugia delivered his ruling, Grech questioned how “deaths and terror” within Malta’s prison system could not be considered urgent by the government.

He further criticised Minister Camilleri for defending Dalli during his tenure and later appointing him as Malta’s representative in Libya with an annual salary of €103,000, despite mounting evidence of prison mismanagement.

The refusal to hold the debate has further escalated political tensions, with the Opposition vowing to continue pressing for accountability over the prison abuses detailed in the Ombudsman’s report.

Grech reaffirmed that his party will not stop in seeking justice for the affected inmates and ensuring that the country’s correctional system adheres to human rights standards.

Meanwhile, civil rights groups and legal experts have called for a deeper investigation into the Ombudsman’s findings, urging authorities to take concrete action in response to the report.

Calls for Minister Camilleri’s resignation have also intensified, with critics arguing that political accountability is crucial in addressing systemic failures within the prison system.

What do you make of this move?