Reference is made to Raymond Sammut’s letter entitled “Crocodile tears for Maltese workers in Libya” (TMIS, 24 August).

In this letter, Mr Sammut was highly inaccurate as regards the details related to the assistance given by the Crisis Centre in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Mr Sammut wrote that at the end of July, the Crisis Centre informed Maltese workers in Libya that a commercial flight was available from Mitiga airport in Tripoli that cost €1,200. The latter is incorrect, as before the end of July, precisely on 21st July, the Crisis Centre organised a flight from Mitiga, operated by Medavia, at a cost of €260. On 26th July, the Crisis Centre managed to make arrangements with Virtù Ferries Co Ltd, offering 50 seats free of charge to Maltese nationals; only 25 Maltese nationals took up the offer. On 31st July, free places were again offered to Maltese nationals on a Greek military ship. Nobody availed himself of this offer.

On 6th August, the Crisis Centre organised two free flights for Maltese nationals, one from Tripoli and the other from Labraq. On 9th August, Virtù Ferries again offered free seats to Maltese nationals in Libya. Other arrangements followed with the government of the Philippines, and another one with the government of South Korea, both offering free trips to Maltese nationals in Libya.

We also wish to point out that  according to our call logs, contact between the Crisis Centre and Mr Sammut was registered on 22nd July where he stated that he did not wish to be contacted. Another contact was made on 31st July, with Mr Sammut declaring that he was not seeking any assistance from the Maltese government since his company was making all the arrangements necessary for him to travel to Malta.   

Maria Muscat

Communications Coordinator

Ministry for Foreign Affairs