The Nationalist Party has accused the Minister of Justice of “completely forgetting about the Gozo Court,” saying that to date, since his appointment more than a year ago, Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis has not visited the Gozo Court “to see first hand the great difficulties that are faced there on a daily basis.”
In a statement, the PN said the situation at the Court affects all those who have cases – those who work at the court, the Police, as well as lawyers and legal procurators, and Magistrates who hear cases in the Gozo Court.
Among the problems is a lack of a CCTV system in the Court building for the security of those present. The PN also stressed the fact that the building is not accessible to all.
It argued that “these serious shortcomings are leading to the public not being served properly, as well as being a serious obstacle to those who need to go to the Gozo Court for justice.”
The PN went on to say that as Magistrate Joe Mifsud rightly said a few days ago, the Gozo Court is “moving with a crisis management system.”
The Nationalist Party stated that under three different Labour Ministers, the building project for a new Court in Gozo has not only remained unfulfilled, it seems to have been set aside completely from the Government’s plans for Gozo.
“This decision is a result of the quarrels that exist between Labour MPs that at some point have all served as Minister for Gozo during the last 8 years.”
The Minister for Justice should set aside the rift that has arisen between Labour MPs and revitalise the new Gozo Court building project, the PN said.
The statement concluded by saying that, “it is also urgent that the Minister for Justice ensures that until the new Court project is carried out investment is needed to stop the Gozo Court going from one crisis to another.
The statement was signed by Chris Said – Opposition Spokesperson for Gozo and Karol Aquilina – Opposition spokesperson for Good Governance.