Speaking on the Adjournment in Parliament this evening, PN MP Claudette Buttigieg denied rumours she was trying to block the inquiry that had been sparked by earlier comments made by her on corruption at Addolorata Cemetery.

She said that she hopes pressure to stop the investigations is not coming from elsewhere, mentioning that she heard that one of the people allegedly involved in this scandal is a director who, if he remains suspended, could lose his position. She said that there are those putting pressure on Castille in order for no steps to be taken against anyone.

She claimed that she has found evidence of corruption not just at Addolorata but at other cemeteries as well.

She asked whether it was true that private undertakers at the Mosta cemetery are charging for placing the remains in government owned graves instead of being placed ossuary and also whether government owned graves have been transferred to private individuals?

She also asked whether in Burmarrad and Zebbug, graves were sold at higher prices than asked for by government. 

The PN MP mentioned other abuses, where amputated limbs accumulated in the Addolorata Ossuary, rather than being properly disposed of, resulting in rat infestations. She also stressed that workers did not adhere to proper hygiene, by not wearing the appropriate gear, such as gloves or replacing uniforms after cleaning graves.

She mentioned that some workers would charge questionable amounts for cleaning graves.

The same contractors that have been involved in illegal grave digging at Addolorata have been doing the same at Braxia Cemetery, she explained.

The government, she stressed, needs to take action.