NGOs call on Parliament to vote for a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia's untimely death

12 July 2023

Today, Parliament will be voting on the motion to initiate a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s death, after he was killed in a building collapse in Kordin. Civil society organisations will be supporting Jean Paul Sofia’s family from the public gallery in Parliament.

The full statement by 13 NGOs calling on Parliament to vote for a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s untimely death follows.

We call on parliament to vote for a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s untimely death

Statement by civil society organisations

Today, 12th July 2023, Parliament will be voting on the motion to initiate a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s death, after he was killed in a building collapse in Kordin. Civil society organisations will be supporting Jean Paul Sofia’s family from the public gallery in Parliament.

Regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigations and the magisterial inquiry, without a public inquiry that questions the circumstances of Jean Paul’s death, more people will be killed or injured on construction sites. These deaths and injuries can be prevented if the Maltese State learns lessons from Jean Paul’s death. The questions that must be asked include whether Jean Paul Sofia’s death could have been prevented; whether there were and are systemic and administrative failures that are contributing to fatalities and injuries on construction sites; and how action can be taken to prevent such fatalities and injuries.

A transparent and open public inquiry is a critical step to delivering full justice for Jean Paul Sofia and for his family, and to identify all the changes that Malta needs to make to prevent future deaths. A public inquiry does not duplicate or disrupt a magisterial inquiry. The processes are complementary and both are essential to deliver the full justice that Jean Paul Sofia and his family deserve.

We stand with Isabelle Bonnici and John Sofia, Jean Paul’s parents, and the 18,000 people who signed Isabelle Bonnici’s petition calling for a public inquiry. We remind members of parliament that their oath of office binds them to serve the public interest and not their party’s. Without a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s death, other lives are being left in danger. We urge our Parliamentarians, most especially Prime Minister Robert Abela, to do the right thing today – vote in favour of a public inquiry to ensure no other lives are lost in vain.

Signatories

  • aditus
  • Anti Poverty Forum Malta
  • Friends of the Earth Malta
  • Integra
  • Jesuit Refugee Services
  • Kopin
  • Moviment Graffitti
  • NWAMI International Malta
  • OASI Foundation
  • Repubblika
  • SOS Malta
  • The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
  • Victim Support Malta