‘This Was No Natural Disaster’: JeanPaul Sofia’s Parents Ramp Up Pressure On Prime Minister To Appoint Public Inquiry
Undeterred by Prime Minister Robert Abela’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into their son’s death, JeanPaul Sofia’s parents have issued a lengthy statement to explain why such a move would be the best course of action.
“Justice for our son does not begin and end with the prosecution and eventual conviction of those who are allegedly criminally liable for his death,” the statement by Isabelle Bonnici and John Sofia reads.
“Full justice for JeanPaul also means an inquiry into whether state authorities or representatives failed in their obligation to safeguard his life and failed to take preventative measures to protect him and others from the risk of loss of life and physical injury.”
Abela has insisted that a public inquiry into the circumstances of Sofia’s death at a Kordin construction site last December isn’t necessary as a magisterial inquiry is already ongoing.
However, the young man’s parents pointed out that while a magisterial inquiry can establish who was criminally responsible for the death, it isn’t capable of identifying state failure and gaps in legislation and regulation and proposing recommendations to help eliminate the risk of life and injury at construction sites.
@lovinmaltaofficialMalta’s Prime Minister has poured cold water on continued calls for an independent, public inquiry into the death of 20-year-old JeanPaul Sofia. “The tools and legal dispositions to address what happened already exist, and there’s surely no need for a public enquiry to look into those shortcoming,” Robert Abela told journalists this morning. His comments come as a magisterial inquiry is underway looking into what exactly led to the death of the Maltese youth. Abela has called for this magisterial inquiry to hurry up to reveal what happened that fateful day – but JeanPaul Sofia’s mother, Isabelle Bonnici, has reiterated her calls for a public inquiry to be set up immediately, and just yesterday, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech filed a parliamentary motion calling for a public inquiry to be set up. “This won’t hinder the magisterial inquiry and will help lead towards a serious reform,” Bonnici said earlier this week. “I want total justice and for no other parent to pass through what we are passing through.” “I am ready to meet with everyone who is willing to meet me but no one from government has had the decency to at least answer me. Do none of you agree with my request?” Do you think a public inquiry should be set up? Full article by Johnathan Cilia
“The loss of a son is always tragic. The circumstances in which Jean Paul died are horrific,” they said.
“He died buried under a collapsed building amid stone, bricks and fresh concrete. It took fifteen hours to find his body and extract him from the debris.”
“This was no accident occurring as a result of a natural disaster. This was much the result of inaction by state entities and administrative, regulatory and legislative failure, as it was the result of actions of people involved in the site’s development.”
They also criticised Abela for urging the magisterial inquiry to hurry up.
“We need to know who is criminally responsible for our son’s death but we recognise that it would be counterproductive for us to pressure the magistrate responsible for inquiring into criminal responsibility to act hastily,” they said.
JeanPaul Sofia and his mother Isabelle Bonnici
“What we expect from the inquest is thoroughness. While we want to see criminal justice served in a timely manner, calls for hastiness are futile and capable of prejudicing the seriousness of the process.”
“We reiterate our call on Abela to appoint a board for the holding of a public inquiry into the circumstances of JeanPaul’s untimely death. As the head of government it falls upon him to initiate an objective inquiry into whether his death was preventable had there been timely action by authorities, adequate regulation and legislation, and adequate and efficient procedures in place.”
“This could help save the lives of others.”
“ Two days ago, Robery Abela publicly acknowledged that more regulation is needed. Without an independent and impartial public inquiry, which is capable of summoning authorities, state representatives and relevant stakeholders to testify, and tasked with inquiring whether there were any administative, regulatory and legislative shortcomings, and with making recommendations, JeanPaul’s death would have been in vain.”
‘Our son’s death is not a partisan issue. His death, together with the death and injury of others on construction sites clearly shows there are systemic failures.”
“Public entities are reasonably expected to have been aware of such failures and ought to have taken the necessary measures to prevent the loss of life and injury.”
“Only a public inquiry can provide us with answers it is our right to have and with the satisfaction of knowing that future deaths will be prevented. A magisterial inquest cannot do this and it is correct to suggest otherwise.”
Should a public inquiry be held into JeanPaul Sofia’s death?
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