L-Assoċjazzjoni Maltija tal-Iżvilupp (MDA) esprimiet tħassib serju dwar il-prattika li jiġu implikati kumpaniji privati f’inkjesti maġisterjali mibdija fuq talbiet ta’ terzi. Dawn l-inkjesti ma jkollhomx rimedji għal tali kumpaniji u qed jikkawżaw ħsara sinifikanti għar-reputazzjoni tal-entitajiet involuti.
Filwaqt li l-MDA ttappoġġja l-prinċipji tal-istat tad-dritt, ma tista qatt taqbel ma’ sistema fejn inkjesta tiġi attivata biss fuq il-bażi ta’ rapporti fil-gazzetti li ma jkunux ġew sostanzjati tramite preżentazzjoni ta’ evidenza kredibbli li tappoġġja tali talbiet.
Biex tkun żgurata l-ġustizzja proċedurali, l-MDA tirrakkomanda fost oħrajn l-introduzzjoni ta’ mekkaniżmu formali li jagħti lill-kumpaniji implikati l-opportunità li jippreżentaw l-evidenza tagħhom u jiddefendu l-pożizzjoni tagħhom.
Minkejja n-nuqqas ta’ implikazzjonijiet ta’ ħtija, dawn il-proċeduri ħafna drabi jkollhom impatt kummerċjali negattiv għal kumpaniji li jimpjegaw mijiet ta’ individwi, dan kollu waqt li ma jimponu ebda responsabbiltà fuq dawk li jinstigaw l-allegazzjonijiet infondati.
Għaldaqstant, l-MDA tħeġġeġ lill-gvern biex jimplimenta riformi komprensivi sabiex tiġi stabbilita sistema li tkun ġusta, li tippermetti ebda lok għal abbuż, u sistema li tkun allinjata mal-prinċipji tal-ġustizzja u r-responsabbiltà.
MDA Calls for Reform to Ensure Fairness and Accountability in Magisterial Inquiries
The Malta Developers Association (MDA) has expressed serious concerns about the practice of implicating private companies in magisterial inquiries initiated by third-party requests. These inquiries frequently lack substantive remedies and inflict significant reputational damage on the entities involved.
While the MDA upholds the principles of the rule of law, it cannot endorse a system where an inquiry is triggered solely on the basis of unsubstantiated newspaper reports, without the presentation of credible evidence to support such requests.
To ensure procedural fairness, the MDA advocates for the introduction of a formal mechanism that affords implicated companies the opportunity to present their evidence and defend their position.
Despite the absence of any implication of guilt, these procedures often have profound commercial implications for companies that employ hundreds of individuals, while imposing no accountability on those who instigate unfounded allegations.
Accordingly, the MDA urges the government to implement comprehensive reforms to establish a system that is just, impervious to abuse, and aligned with the principles of fairness and accountability.