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HUMAN TRAGEDY

The only real story this week is the human tragedy that hit Marsaxlokk in particular and the country as a whole.

Our politicians and social leaders, whether they are bus drivers, church ministers, or band club presidents, and the rest of us, the commenting classes, would do well to take a few minutes from our precious time and reflect on the fact that while we were puffing our chests and making our oh-so-precious opinions known, the relatives and friends of the people lost at sea were going through a living hell. As were, forgive me for stating the obvious, the people who were on the fishing boat one minute and found themselves in the sea the next.

When I settled down to start writing this, I wasn’t sure what direction it would take. Somewhat surprisingly, I’m finding myself driven to apologising for amusing myself by teasing my many critics about their command of English while this tragedy was unfolding. I doubt that my flippancy registered on the consciousness of the people directly affected by what can only be called this disaster, but I still feel a bit guilty for going about my business as if nothing was happening out at sea.

I suppose it is only because I started thinking about the tragedy directly that these thoughts formed themselves. This blog started out as just another blog, a comment on current issues and when I cast around in my mind for a subject, the only one that stood out was this story: hence my opening line.

From this opening line came the thought that here I was, sitting comfortably at my computer, as I have been most of the time (when I wasn’t enjoying myself in other ways) while these people were slowly succumbing to the power of the sea, while others were conducting the search for them and, probably most awfully, while still others were waiting for news. It is illogical to feel guilty, I know, but perhaps the guilty feeling is just a reflection of the fact that – just maybe – there are more important things in the world than whether I should respond to some comment on my blog with a facile comment of my own.

Luckily for the human race, the world goes on, of course, and I’ve no doubt normal service will be resumed very soon, at least for those of us whose lives have not been destroyed, literally or figuratively, by this tragedy. The searchers will eventually come to terms with the fact that they had only partial success, friends and family will, in the main, mourn and try to move on. I have absolutely no idea how the immediate family and friends of the victims will cope: the enormity of the horror that has engulfed them is such that it defies objective measurement and it would be presumptuous of me to even attempt to encapsulate it.

I toyed with the idea, when starting this blog, of commenting about the way some people have been criticising the way the search and rescue was carried out, or about the way the media seemed to ignore the Somali crewman, apparently (but perhaps only apparently) because he was an immigrant or about the way many people resort to platitudes in the face of tragedy.

I think not: let’s just stop here, this time, and reflect on the fragility of life. Is this a convenient excuse for me to avoid writing any more in the heat that is beating down on Gozo, where I am enjoying the weekend? Perhaps it is: I’m as venal as the next man and I don’t pretend to have the answer to everything, for all that I try to give that impression most of the time.

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Comments

Joseph Grech-Attard (on 24/7/08)
Such tragedies bring unity. True. That most forms of uphoria bring division is also true (politics, feasts, sports, etc). The former reigns only temporarily but, alas, the latter holds on. Why? Do we need tragedies all the time to remain united as a nation? Isn't it ripe time that we all introduce once again morality and ethics into every aspect of our lives?
Denis Catania (on 23/7/08)
Let's respect the dead and their loved ones. And pray for little Theo return. Judge please hurry with the inquiry so these people can Rest in Peace.
Petewr Prictoe (on 23/7/08)
No man is an island, entire of itself ... Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. -- John Donne

The words are familiar-even trite it may be thought but here I am back from a funeral and very conscious, at my age, of mortality.

Then again Stalin is supposed to have said that whilst one death is a tragedy the death of millions is a statistic and whilst I express my condolences there are questions to be answered in this matter no matter what ABC may plead. We gentle readers are the arbiters of what we write-though we must heed Andrew’s words.

Then again the standard of Health and Safety at Work is pathetic in Malta. Think of that both Blue and Red.

Altogether there is a lot of soul searching to be done.

I end as I began with Donne:

No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, ...


Andrew Borg-Cardona (on 23/7/08)
People, please, this wasn't meant to be a forum for everyone and his brother to show what experts they are (or are not) about maritime matters.
J Micallef (on 23/7/08)
I too watched Bondi+, with tears inmy eyes, thinking how stupid are our claims that fish is expensive....
Anyhow, the program raised more questions than answers....
1. Why don't the AFM start the search/enquiry imemdiately when the VMS does not register the boat's position? Is it maybe because the boat may be...errr...temporarily lost??
2. Why was the wife of the captain afraid of raising the alarm immediatley? I happen to come form a fishing village, know dozens of profesional fishermen - and all their families know exactly, minute by minute, what they'd be doing and where they are supposed to be. Even 30 minutes delay are alarming when they have made arrangements for the return, etc.
3. Cannot fathom how no one managed to get a tyre or a life jacket on.
4. Explosion. I'm not so sure about that - needs clarification as far as I can say
5. The AFM chopper took off for the search a bit late, I believe
6. There should have been a coordination between fishermen and AFM - the sea is a vast place. AFM please swollow some of your pride.
7. Was the area where they were found 'normal' for fishermen?
M. Schembri (on 23/7/08)
The magisterial inquiry should delve, amongst other things, into how such state-of-the-art equipment (VMS) at the Fisheries department is not monitored all the time. I think that whoever took this decision should relinquish his post immediately
K.Spiteri (on 23/7/08)
"...let’s just stop here, this time, and reflect on the fragility of life..." very well said Andrew.
david stellini (on 22/7/08)
I am truly concerned about this tragedy.
Concerned, because Brig. Vassallo claims that they did all they could as a search mission. All they could? I don't wish to trash the AFM, but a public inquiry is necessary to ascertain what possible mistakes the search mission could have done . We must not forget that just some 3 weeks ago a small cruiser sank and the occupants were spotted in the water by fishermen. On that occasion the survivors claimed the AFM did not even pass information to the next shift! Clearly we could have had 2 tragedies in the space of a month!
Lets take these incidents seriously and LEARN form our mistakes and have proper procedures for search missions. Why wernt patrol boats deployed?
What if a greater number of people were involved is that Malta's best search effort!
Re the near miss of Airmalta by the small plane.. the culprit was just let off after 2 hours... did the investigators check if the plane was tuna spotting illegally and switched off the transponders purposely ???
Victoria Grech (on 22/7/08)
Touche' ABC. While watching yesterday's Bondi + I too experienced similar feelings of guilt and shame for worrying about silly things.
Alfred Grech (on 22/7/08)
Simon went for 7 days without food, water and rest but he also witnessed his own son dying in his arms, his father drowning and his two other friends disappearing.

This man truly went through hell and so did the families who were waiting for news about their loved ones. The Xlukkajri won't forget it neither - they were their friends and like them, they were fishermen.

May the deceased rest in peace - may Simon be cured soon and may the families gather enough strength to fight the enormous sadness that hit them.
Leonard Gauci (on 21/7/08)
Well pitched. A tragedy that puts things in perspective and makes us realize how much time we spend getting hot and grumpy on petty things.
Charles J Buttigieg (on 21/7/08)
I have great difficulties to comprehend how can a man survive seven days without rest,shelter,food and water on a raft in the middle of the sea. But then I remember that God is the all mighty. I join the rest of our people to wish Simon Bugeja a speedy recovery and my condolences for his loss. May the victims rest in peace and the bereaved find courage to live on.
therese vella (on 21/7/08)
This is the second tragedy that has touched the hearts of the Maltese this year, the first being the Naxxar explosions. I wonder if there is a next one, fuq tlieta toqghod il-borma.
R Agius (on 21/7/08)
....excellent Bocc.....made me (and doubtless many others) choke.....
Charles J Buttigieg (on 21/7/08)
A bud the gardener gave us,
A pure and lovely child,
He gave it to our keeping
To cherish undefiled.
But just as it was opening
To the beauty of the day,
Down came the Heavenly Gardener
And took our bud away
Colin Formosa (on 21/7/08)
Well put.
My heart and prayers go out to the victims and families.
Franco Farrugia (on 21/7/08)
A very strong and emotional 'essai' this time. For the first time, I am reading Dr Borg Cardona's humanity.
Keith Grech (on 21/7/08)
Compliments go to all those who helped in the search and rescue exercise. Saving a life is no easy feat. To give someone a second chance is a true miracle.

Life is so ironic to understand fully, it takes sadness to know what is happiness, noise to distinguish silence and a broken heart to find true love.
d.attard (on 20/7/08)
On another blog, Peter Prictoe asks a very provocative question: 'What ... could be unifying in Malta?

Experiences like the Simshar tragedy sees us all united in grief .

How about having one national day 'Unity Day' that honours our tragedies that unify us, moulding our nation into a sturdy respectful and loving community throughout the rest of each year?
Mark Spiteri (on 20/7/08)
Yes ABC a "Human Tragedy" and I must compliment you on this write up.
This was a tragedy way beyond our imagination.Fishermen going to sea in the middle of the summer with such a tragic outcome.One cannot imagine the ordeal these fishermen went through.I sit and wonder and try to understand how life can be so "cruel".
Whilst Malta was focused on the "Transport Fiasco",we had these fishermen trying to fight for there lives, against all odds.
I was thinking ti myself WHAT IF every available boat on The Island formed part of a massive search party and set out to try and rescue them,would it have been fruitfull instead of the few boats and aircraft used?
May strength come upon those directly hit by the tragedy.
Denis Catania (on 20/7/08)

On this tragedy I want to say that, my prayers are with the families involved, including Abdolrahman Abdala Gedi family the Somali fisherman. The reason his name was not published is, because any respected news agency, would not publish a name, without first notifying the family first. Once his family was notified, than it is appropriate to publish his name. God Bless the victims and their family. Lets pray for little Theo return.
Ivan Attard (on 20/7/08)
What can I add? For once ABC, just for once, you have strung together a sensible and fitting tribute to the tragedy that has shocked the nation the last few days. I too have had time to reflect and have arrived at the conclusion that all other issues we may discuss are dwarfed in the face of what the families of the victims (not least the victims themselves) have been through and are going through. For once, I share your thoughts.
J Martinelli (on 20/7/08)
Well said, ABC and I notice that today's story is somewhat shorter than usual. I assume that like everyone else, one is devoid of adequate words in order to express our sympathy with the families of tragedy.

However as you went on to say, the world moves on and perhaps it is wrong to isolate one particular tragedy and try to get an explanation why it happened or, to express more solidarity with the victims' families any more than for those whose dear ones lost their lives at work or through a traffic accident.

A few months ago we experienced another horrific tragedy in Naxxar and due to loss of life and property, fingers were quickly pointed out at deficiencies in our laws and the enforcement of the existing regulations. In the Naxxar case, there was evidence to be sifted through, a 'crime' scene could be reconstructed and definite recommendations made in order to avoid another incident in the future.

In the Simshar case, the sea swallowed the evidence, although a defective freezer was reported as the likely culprit.

More regular rigid inspections of sea craft by qualified experts may be a partial answer.

May the victims rest in peace.

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