A gaping hole next to a standalone gate supposedly restricting entrance to the army’s shooting range in Pembroke has been closed off by a brick wall, but only after a soldier was given his marching orders for publicly flagging the shortcoming.

Armed Forces of Malta bombardier Godwin Schembri landed in hot water following the circulation of footage on social media, in which he made ‘colourful’ remarks about a new metal gate at the Pembroke shooting range.

In a one-minute video clip uploaded on WhatsApp last week, the AFM soldier questioned the decision to erect the standalone gate without a fence on either side. He made his point by swerving around it while at the wheel of an army truck.

Filmed on a mobile device from the passenger’s front seat, the clip is characterised by giggles from other soldiers in the back of the vehicle, especially when a guard stationed at the exit stares at them while exiting the facility despite the gate being closed.

He made his point by swerving around it while at the wheel of an army truck

Moreover, the bombardier questioned the decision to spend money on this “pointless” gate, when at the same time he claimed that there was a shortage of vests, socks and gloves.

Unfortunately for him, footage of his rant was leaked on WhatsApp and went viral within hours. Times of Malta could not confirm reports that Mr Schembri had been dismissed. No reply was received to questions sent to the AFM and the Home Affairs Ministry.

However, a Facebook page opened to express solidarity with him attracted over 1,200 likes in just two days.

While acknowledging that Mr Schembri had gone overboard in his criticism and should have been disciplined, some of those expressing their support to him pointed out that the decision to expel him was disproportionate.

The knee-high brick wall, adjacent to a standalone new gate at the Pembroke shooting range entrance, was only constructed after an AFM bombardier was allegedly dismissed for his public rant on this “pointless” barrier which left a gaping hole in the perimeter.

Nobody should be kicked out for speaking the plain truth, they said. Furthermore, they pointed out that whoever among his colleagues had leaked the footage should be held accountable and face disciplinary action as well. 

Meanwhile, while this debate was raging, soldiers were deployed to built a brick wall to block the alternative access used by Mr Schembri.

The timing of this work, shortly after the footage was leaked on social media, stoked the debate even further, amid criticism that the decision to build a knee-high perimeter wall vindicated Mr Schembri’s decision to flag the shortcoming.