Updated 7pm with PL reaction
The Opposition has accused the government of "gambling" with the country’s security and criticised its silence on the case of two Moroccan men who remain at large after escaping from a plane at Malta International Airport three weeks ago.
In a statement on Thursday, the Nationalist Party said the public had been left “without any explanation of what really happened” in the case of the escaped Moroccan nationals.
“It has now been 22 days, and to this day, the Government has not uttered a single word about this case... no statement has been issued about what happened, and the public remains without any explanation of what really occurred,” the statement read.
“The security of our country, like health, education, and many other sectors, is not a priority for this Government... Robert Abela’s Government continues to gamble with the security of Malta and the Maltese people.”
Earlier this month, four Moroccan nationals attempted to escape from Malta International Airport by jumping down from the plane they had travelled to the country on and running away across the airport apron.
Their flight had been diverted to Malta after a fellow Moroccan passenger staged a fake medical emergency, causing the Marrakesh-bound aircraft to be diverted to Malta on its way from Istanbul.
Two of them were captured hours later and returned to their home country together with the person who had complained about the malaise in the first place, while 26-year-old Fouad el Sellah and 43-year-old Mohamed Lazaar remain at large.
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri also came in for criticism; the Opposition said Camilleri, “who is responsible for this matter, has not even made a post on Facebook to update us on the situation” while characterising him as appearing “not to be too bothered” by the incident.
The PN also used the opportunity to attack the government over ongoing allegations of foreign nationals being fraudulently registered at addresses in Malta, suggesting it was “also not a concern” for the minister.
While stressing the government should “wake up and start truly safeguarding the Maltese people,” the Opposition expressed its “full solidarity” with the country’s security workers and officials.
The statement was signed by Shadow Home Affairs Minister Darren Carabott.
'Darren Carabott should step out of Facebook bubble' - PL
In a statement, the PL said that the country's security strengthened over recent years.
Research, results and international reports – such as the Rule of Law Index, confirm that our country’s security is strong, with the latter placing Malta among the 10 safest countries in the world, it added.
"PN MP Darren Carabott is more deserving of a title such as shadow minister for social media, since he seems to conduct his political affairs there where he is often caught on the wrong foot.
"One may recall a few occasions: the PN attacks the country on security, at the same time ignoring the results achieved in our country. The PN attacks enforcement, but then its own spokesmen attack the police when they take action to remove (from Malta) people without the necessary permits.," the party said.
The PN attacks the authorities who have done their job by fighting abuse because the PN is not interested in fighting abuse but in partisan propaganda, the PL claimed in the statement.
"The PN talks about security, but whoever works for security in this country has been trampled upon by the Opposition. In contrast, the Labour government gave the best conditions and resources to all workers within this sector."