Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518433
4 NEWS 4 KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 APRIL 2024 THE Nationalist Party has ex- pressed its "disgust" at how an internal investigation by Trans- port Malta found no wrong do- ing despite officials allegedly dropping maritime fines after pocketing money from boaters. MPs Ivan Castillo, Mark An- thony Sammut and Darren Carabott said claims by the Na- tionalist Party on scandals in- volving the transport authority's maritime sectors have now been backend up by the independent media. Last Sunday, in an exclusive re- port, MaltaToday revealed how at least three officials within the Maritime Enforcement Unit (MEU) at Transport Malta have been tampering with maritime fines. The names of the officials im- plicated in this racket are known to this newspaper but are being withheld for the time being. The sources said that employ- ees within the MEU have been pressured to "erase" certain fines issued to boaters for various maritime infringements. Citing the MaltaToday re- port, Castillo said the PN insists that the investigation report, its method and who was on the investigations board be made public. He also claimed the gov- ernment is being held hostage by TM officials to keep the incident under wraps. He also said Prime Minister Robert Abela is being black- mailed by predecessor Joseph Muscat. Mark Anthony Sammut said TM has become known to be an institution "full of rackets", mentioning the driving licence racket, the Y-plate saga and con- sultancies to former MP Silvio Grixti who is embroiled in the medical certificates racket. "We are not interested in inter- nal investigations by the author- ity because we don't trust them and fear they could be tampered with," Sammut said. He expressed concern over the assertion that everything is in or- der despite the incriminating ev- idence. Sammut urged the police to fulfil their duty and slammed government for being sluggish. He highlighted that these insti- tutions are funded by taxpayers to ensure the public's safety, "hence transparency should be a reasonable expectation." Sammut noted that despite the evidence, only the Trans- port Minister and the authori- ty's CEO had been replaced in recent months. He called upon Prime Minister Robert Abela to fulfil his responsibilities, take accountability, and ensure the proper functioning of his gov- ernment's authorities. Meanwhile, PN MP Darren Carabott remarked that these scandals have not only occurred over the past nine months but have accumulated over several years. He emphasised that the PN has consistently demanded and anticipated action to be tak- en. PN wants internal probe into TM maritime fines corruption racket to be published MaltaToday revealed how at least three officials within the Maritime Enforcement Unit at Transport Malta have been tampering with maritime fines KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt THE new national airline has received a telling off from the Prime Minister after Maltese was ditched as a job requirement for cabin crew. Robert Abela said on Tuesday that he has spoken to the com- pany on the matter that caused controversy. "When I fly on the national air- line, I expect to have crew that can speak in Maltese," Abela said when asked by reporters for his views on the issue during a press conference at Castille marking this administration's two years since the general election. "I have spoken to the company and they assured me that this will be the case," Abela said, adding the use of the Maltese language must be given its due importance. KM Malta Airlines, the aviation company that stepped in after Air Malta's demise, dropped the Maltese language as a require- ment for cabin crew recruits. The airline justified its decision on the basis that 80% of its pas- sengers were foreign nationals. Previously, Air Malta required cabin crew to know Maltese and English. Abela insists Maltese language be given 'due importance' by new national airline New airline receives telling off from Prime Minister after Maltese is ditched as a job requirement for cabin crew Prime MInister Robert Abela said he had spoken to KM Malta Airlines on having crew members who speak Maltese