The case of the alleged issuance of around 18,000 false identity cards is of concern not only on a national level but also on a European level and this is because this identity card gives the right of free movement in the border-free Schengen Area. This was highlighted by speakers of ADPD – The Green Party during a news conference this morning where they called for the minister responsible to be held accountable.
ADPD Secretary General Dr. Ralph Cassar said that the fact that it was easy to give 18,000 people an identity card with false details, including in some cases identity theft, is a symptom of two things: the indifference of whoever is issuing these documents and the potential collusion between authority officers and the world of crime. It is highly unlikely that such a large volume of documents containing false information could have been produced without a well-planned, orchestrated effort involving multiple individuals and substantial amounts of money, as has been claimed on several occasions.
The fact that Byron Camilleri was not able to take political responsibility and resign clearly showed that he does not have the necessary qualities to lead. He does not realize the gravity of the scandals and corruption that is happening around him. Cassar remarked that in order for the situation to have escalated to this extent, there must be significant amounts of money involved. “Additionally, it is probable that the people involved believed that they could get away with it despite the high level of risk involved. The impunity that Malta has become famous for after the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has inspired some individuals to take advantage of the non-existent authority and the lack of law enforcement and see how much money they could make. And they appear to have succeeded.”
ADPD – The Green Party’s Chairperson Sandra Gauci said that the people involved in this massive scandal need to pay the consequences of their actions. “We can no longer treat those who are jeopardizing the Schengen agreement for the Maltese to be let off with a slap on the wrist. The usefulness of the identity card in the health services is also threatened because now nobody is sure of anything, so much so that further documents such as a passport are being requested to make sure that the person in front of them is genuine. Another burden thrown on the backs of our hospital workers is the negligence and the institutionalized corruption that are entrenched in the system. Even our health system is at a loss and its data is accessible to anyone and can use that data as they see fit. Nothing and nobody are protected anymore except those who steal and embezzle. The citizen is bereft of any form of protection from any possible angle because the institutions that were supposed to look out for the interests of the citizen have now taken advantage of the situation and stripped citizens of everything, including their identity.
There is a need to give this case the importance it deserves because these things did not happen by accident but with intention. Everyone who is involved needs to pay dearly and justice needs to be harsh with them. We can no longer brush off the responsibilities of those who weave this deceptive net for gain from the backs of people who are probably desperate and believe that this is the way things are done, when in fact this was another institutionalized yet illegal way to make money from foreigners who thought they would find a better life in our country. Political responsibility must be carried, and Byron Camilleri needs to be removed immediately. We know his true worth now,” concluded Gauci.
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Hemm bżonn li tintrefa’ responsabilità politika fil-każ tal-allegat ħruġ ta’ karti tal-identità foloz
Il-każ tal-allegat ħruġ ta’ madwar 18,000 karta tal-identità falza huwa ta’ tħassib mhux biss fuq livell nazzjonali imma wkoll fuq livell Ewropew u dan minħabba li din il-karta tal-identità tagħti d-dritt ta’ moviment ħieles fil-pajjiżi li għalihom japplika l-ftehim ta’ Schengen. Dan sostnewh kelliema tal-ADPD – The Green Party waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet dalgħodu fejn sejħu biex tintrefa’ r-responsabilità mill-ministru responsabbli.
Is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-ADPD Dr Ralph Cassar qal li l-fatt li kien daqsekk faċli li 18,000 persuna jingħataw karta tal-identità b’dettalji foloz, inkluż f’xi każi l-identità nnifisha, hu sintomu ta’ żewġ affarijiet: menefregiżmu da parti ta’ min qiegħed joħroġ dawn id-dokumenti inkella kollużjoni bejn ufficjali tal-awtorità u d-dinja tal-kriminalità. Ma jistax ikun li joħorġu dawn l-ammonti ta’ dokumenti b’dettalji foloz mingħajr ma jkun hemm pjan orkestrat b’ħafna nies involuti u b’ħafna dħul ta’ flus involuti kif anke ġie allegat diversi drabi. Il-fatt li dan kollu jaqa’ taħt il-Ministeru mmexxi minn Byron Camilleri juri pattern fit-tmexxija (jekk tista’ ssejhilha hekk) tal-Ministru. Huwa pattern perikoluż ħafna għall-pajjiżfost ħafna affarijiet oħra; il-Ministru Byron Camilleri missu ilu li refa’ r-responsabbiltà politika u rriżenja. Aħna bħala ADPD nitolbu din ir-riżenja li jmissha ilha li saret.
Il-fatt li ma kienx kapaċi jerfa’ r-responsabbiltà politika u jirreżenja wera biċ-ċar li Byron Camilleri m’għandux il-kwalitajiet neċessarji biex imexxi. Mhux jirrealizza l-gravità tal-iskandli u l-korruzzjoni li qed tiġri madwaru.
Cassar qal li biex wasalna f’dawn il-livelli, bilfors li l-ammonti ta’ flus involuti huma kbar; x’aktarx dil-ħadma tinvolvi għadd kbir ta’ nies li ħasbu li qatt m’hu se jinqabdu, biex issograw daqshekk. L-impunità f’Malta li sirna famużi għaliha wara l-qtil tal-ġurnalista Daphne Caruana Galizia rabba f’ċertu individwi qrib, b’xi mod jew ieħor, tal-Partit Laburista l-ardir li jisfidaw l-awtorità ineżistenti u l-liġijiet sbieħ fuq il-karta u jaraw kemm jistgħu idaħħlu flus illegalment. U milli jidher irnexxhielhom.
Iċ-Chairperson tal-ADPD Sandra Gauci qalet li l-persuni involuti f’dan l-iskandlu enormi hemm bżonn li jħallsu tal-konsegwenzi ta’ għemilhom b’mod eżemplari. Ma nistgħux nibqgħu nħarsu filwaqt li hawn kriminali li qegħdin jipperikolaw l-applikazzjoni tal-ftehim ta’ Schengen għall-Maltin u r-residenti ta’ pajjiżna. L-utilità tal-karta tal-identità fis-servizzi tas-saħħa hi mhedda ukoll għax issa ħadd ma hu ċert minn xejn, tant li qed jiġu mitluba dokumenti ulterjuri bħal passaport biex jaċċertaw li dik il-persuna li għandhom quddiemhom taħt il-kura tagħhom hi verament min qiegħda tgħid li hi. Piż ieħor imwaddab fuq dahar il-ħaddiema tagħna fl-isptar tort tan-negliġenza u l-korruzzjoni istituzzjonalizzata li hawn. Anke is-saħħa tagħna intilfet u saret xi ħaġa aċċessibbli u pubblika li kulħadd jista’ jużaha għal kif jaqbel lilu. Xejn ma għadu protett ħlief min jisraq u jfotti. Iċ-ċittadin jinsab waħdu għeri minn kull forma ta’ protezzjoni minn kull element possibbli għax l-istituzzjonjiet li suppost ħadu ħsiebu u ndokrawh, raw x’għamlu u ħadulu kull ma setgħu inkluż l-identità.
Hemm bżonn li dan il-każ jingħata l-importanza li ħaqqu għax dawn l-affarijiet ma ġrawx bi żball imma bi ħsieb. Kull min huwa involut hemm bżonn li jħallas qares u li l-ġustizzja tkun ħarxa miegħu. Ma nistgħux nibqgħu infarfru r-responsabilitajiet ta’ min niseġ din ix-xibka qarrieqa għal gwadann minn fuq dahar nies li probabbilment iddisprati u ħasbu li dan hu l-mod kif isiru l-affarijiet. Meta fil-fatt dan kien mod ieħor illegali istituzzjonalizzat biex isiru l-flus mil-barranin li ħasbu li se jsibu ħajja aħjar f pajjiżna. Ir-responsabilita’ politika trid tittiħed u hemm bżonn li Byron Camilleri iwarrab minnufih. Nafu biżżejjed xi jsarraf, temmet tgħid Gauci.
