The Nationalist Party is appealing to the government to work on solutions to ensure that the safety of people on our roads and surrounding seas is far better protected.
While it recognises that no government can offer a guarantee that accidents will never happen, the PN said it expects the current administration to do far, far more to prevent accidents wherever possible.
In recent days, we have heard of several fatal road accidents. It is regrettable that the government is not investing enough in safeguarding people's safety and is leaving enforcement officers without the tools they need to carry out their duties. Furthermore, the government is failing to attract enough young people to join the security services, including the Police Force, the PN said.
During a press conference addressed by Shadow Minister for Transport and Mobility Mark Anthony Sammut, Shadow Minister for the Maritime Sector, Social Dialogue and the Fight Against Cost of Living Ivan Castillo, and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Reforms Darren Carabott, attention was drawn to these failures in the safety sector. They condemned the Government for remaining motionless in the face of growing risks. The speakers explained how a new Partit Nazzjonalista Government would prioritise this sector with a series of specific measures.
They stated clearly that the safety of people, both on our roads and at sea, must be a national priority, the speakers said.
With Malta experiencing a surge in population and a sharp rise in vehicle numbers, the Government is being irresponsible in failing to take the action necessary to strengthen public safety.
Worrying levels of cocaine and cannabis abuse along with alcohol make serious enforcement efforts critical to reducing accidents involving people under the influence.
The situation at sea is also of concern. In the space of two years, maritime incidents rose dramatically from 17 to 41. Here too, there is a clear problem with resources dedicated to enforcement and safety at sea, the PN said.
The speakers recalled how even the RHIBs, the boats used for maritime enforcement, were at the centre of scandal when it emerged they were not safe for officers themselves.
This lack of resources means it is impossible for our maritime enforcement officers to keep up with the increased number of vessels navigating our seas.
The PN has renewed its call for a national action plan, with a focus on effective enforcement, harsher penalties for individuals who pose a danger to others on the roads and at sea, public education campaigns, enforcement around roadworks, safe infrastructure for all road users, and greater resources for more visible safety enforcement.
The PN spokespersons said the Government continues to look the other way in the face of these daily realities and lacks the will to provide real solutions. The Government is also failing on justice and public order, with weak penalties and sporadic enforcement eroding people's trust in the current system.