Updated | Country has ‘a lot to learn’, Bartolo says in supercar crash aftermath

The country has a lot to learn from Sunday’s incident, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this evening.

Speaking in parliament during the time allocated for parliamentary questions, the Minister took the opportunity to express the government’s sorrow over the incident that landed 26 in hospital.

According to the latest information, one patient remains in critical condition; the condition of four others has improved.

Bartolo also confirmed that one of those injured is an assistant head.

“Let this incident also be an occasion for the country to reflect … this country has a lot to learn to avoid the repetition of such incidents,” the Minister said.

Joining the minister, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the incident had shocked everyone. Expressing his solidarity with the victims and their relatives, Busuttil also thanked the healthcare professionals for their work.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also expressed his solidarity with the victims and said he was “impressed” by the professionalism of the paramedics, healthcare professionals and police officers.

During the adjournment, backbencher Deborah Schembri also spoke of the unfortunate incident, raising questions over proper security.

“I don’t want to point fingers at anyone, but it is important that we talk about security. A lot of philanthropic events are organised in Malta and it is therefore important that we learn from this unfortunate incident,” Schembri said.

She added that covering an event with an insurance policy was not enough.

“We have to think about prevention and look beyond the ‘obvious’,” she said.

Schembri praised the operations of Mater Dei’s A&E unit and healthcare professionals.

Referring to the distasteful comments by a sacked DJ, Schembri said she had no words to describe her disgust at the comments and praised the company for dismissing him.