The Wasteserv facility at Maghtab is operating as usual after the fire that engulfed part of it on Friday was completely put out.

In a statement, Wasteserv thanked its employees who together with the Civil Protection Department worked to control the fire which started on Friday morning.

PD calls for establishment of Public Inquiry into Magħtab fire

Partit Demokratiku today called for an independent public inquiry under the Inquiries Act to look into the reasons behind why, in a space of 15 months, two fires broke out at Sant’ Antnin Recycling Plant and Magħtab. It must be established what precautions were taken, whether the response was proportionate, and what remedial action needs to be taken to avoid a repeat of such a scenario.

The call by Minister of Environment Josè Herrera to launch an inquiry by the Attorney General on the Magħtab fires falls short of the standards required. It shames Government and clearly shows disrespect to whoever resides in Malta.

The statement of the Environmental and Resource Authority (ERA) which confirms that toxic and carcinogenic dioxins and furans were released in the air and spread over a large populated area is worrying.

PD noted with concern the huge deficiencies and lack of strategic planning facing our country in the field. The inadequate safeguards and deficient pre-emptive measures, the politicized and mismanaged Wasteserv, and the defective National Disaster Contingency Plan have proven themselves, beyond any doubt, to be grossly inadequate.  

This irresponsible mismanagement unnecessarily puts our CPD personnel, on whom we depend to save our lives, in unnecessary danger. However, it is unlikely that anyone will take responsibility and resign.

Yesterday, half of Malta’s population has been given a taste of what happens when things go wrong. PD said it hoped the government who has promised everything to everyone, will not forget the promises, as there is the safety and health of our people, and those visiting, living and working in Malta at stake.