In the past years, I have regularly penned my views on a wide range of issues but, admittedly, this is the first time that I write with a heavy heart. I have rarely ever felt my blood boiling while writing. I have in my writings touched many subjects which came under my radar, from socio-economic issues, alleged cases of corruption and bribes, environmental matters, the lack of good governance and deficiencies in the rule of law. But never before did I have to write on the tragic death of a child. The death of the 7-year old Nigerian girl is not only sad but reveals very serious shortcomings in our society. Hopefully, these serious shortcomings were not further compounded by a bureaucracy. Victoria like all other seven years old children should have been cared for and nourished by her parents or her guardians with access to schooling and play time instead she was neglected and, hard as it may be to believe, allegedly dying of starvation.
No amount of apologies will bring back Victoria.
We are renowned, and we tend to believe, that we are a caring society but somehow, for reasons not as yet known, Victoria has slipped from our hands.
Victoria’s tragic death is currently being investigated by two independent inquiries, and lately it was reported that the Cospicua District Police are also investigating the girl’s death. The inquiries are being conducted by Magistrate Ian Farrugia, while the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity has appointed Emeritus Judge Philip Sciberras to conduct second inquiry to establish the facts which led to the demise of Victoria. For the time being, I will refrain from drawing any conclusions, but I will judiciously make some comments on behalf of Victoria.
It is rather odd that since Victoria’s passing away, the family’s two other children were placed under a care order. Unfortunately, the competent authorities saw fit to take the appropriate measures when it was already too late. It seems that our society is becoming more and more insensitive to issues which, until some years ago, resounded and pushed the relevant authorities to take immediate action.
Our small community, and rightly so, prides itself that a wide range of benefits, in cash, in kind and at times even both, are provided from the national coffers to the vulnerable in our society. The aim is to support those in need to face their daily hardships and improve their quality of life as far as is reasonable practicable. The assistance is also intended to act as a trampoline to put vulnerable people back on their feet. Both leading political parties have strived to improve these benefits and to introduce others as our society developed. Indeed, vulnerable people, including those who for some reason find themselves on our shores, should be supported. They too are to receive the hospitality one would expect from a society that prides itself of its generosity, particularly in a time of boon when the economic growth registered is higher than average when compared with other countries.
In addition to these national efforts, there are a good number of voluntary organizations that, from time to time, organize fund raising activities to support vulnerable people, both locally and in other countries. Our society takes great pride in helping others and our altruism is second to none. And yet, it still fails us.
The shocking and tragic news that Victoria, had passed away is, as yet, shrouded in mystery. Hopefully, the inquiries will shed light as to where we went horribly wrong. We had failed to see her predicament and when we did, it was too late for Victoria.
Ironically, Victoria’s death has shed light on our society which, to my mind, is becoming self-centered and uncaring to the extent that the death out of neglect of a 7-year old child failed to create a public outcry. I find the fact that all we did was carry out a couple of inquiries and raise the circumstances surrounding the death of Victoria in the House during question as appalling.
This brings me to recent horrendous murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, an investigative journalist who had revealed many issues which, if not for her, would have concealed from the public by those who were duty-bound to prevent or else prosecute. In both cases, the least one would expect is for the competent authorities to take charge and bring those responsible to justice. With regard to Daphne, these are the masterminds and the perpetrators of the cold-blooded murder; in the case of Victoria, these are the competent authorities responsible for her welfare and that of her family if the findings of the inquiries demonstrate neglect on their part.
May the deaths of Daphne and Victoria be the beacon of light for our society which has become more affluent yet a less caring society.
Gejtu Vella
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