The Nationalist Party on Thursday lamented at how a court extension promised by the government four years ago today lays abandoned.
The government’s promise of a court extension in another building in Strait Street in Valletta has not been fulfilled, even though almost four years have passed since the Justice Ministry – at the time led by Edward Zammit Lewis – announced the project in a news conference on the site, the PN said.
The PN noted that in November 2020, the Justice Ministry had announced that a building situated next to the Family Court would be modernised to include four courtrooms and 25 new offices in what was expected to be a €5 million investment.
The government had said that the project would be complete by January 2023 and that the public, judiciary and court staff would be better served by it.
“Despite the several promises that the Justice Ministry has made, up till today no works have started and it seems that the project has been abandoned. The permit for the project was approved by the Planning Authority in February 2023, so over a year and a half ago,” the party said.
The PN said that the lack of space and adequate facilities are among the justice system’s urgent needs. The party also noted that there exists a severe lack of workers within the Court Services Agency, including people who have the experience and knowledge of legal and procedural practices which are directly assigned to judges and magistrates.
The party said that these are necessary to address the large number of pending cases and to stop situations where judges and magistrates cannot hear cases because there aren’t enough courtrooms or because there aren’t enough workers assigned to them.
“The Justice Minister cannot do nothing about this grave situation anymore,” the party said.
“Our country needs action so that the justice system becomes one which is just, serious, efficient, and effective. The Maltese and Gozitan citizens and businesses have fallen victim to the failures of Justice Minister Jonathan Attard and are having to suffer the consequences of the lack of planning and investment to improve the country’s justice system.
The statement was signed by the PN’s shadow justice minister Karol Aquilina.