Updated | Government condemns PN’s ‘extremist’ decision to boycott agency celebrations

The government has hit out at the Nationalist Party’s decision to boycott a social event at the Local Enforcement Agency (LESA) as “political extremism” and “absolute negativity’.

The gathering took place at LESA’s Pieta offices to commemorate the 100th day since its inception last year. However, the PN turned down an invitation to attend in protest at the appointment of former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit as the agency’s head.

“Zammit doesn’t have the credentials to head the agency,” PN Whip David Agius said in a statement. “He was the police chief involved in the cover-up of a shooting; he was censored for his role in a murder investigation, and it now transpires that he procured three government plots for only €20,000 thanks to a policy change by this government.”

Agius insisted that Zammit’s record showed “he shouldn’t be trusted” but because “he’s close to Joseph Muscat, he is still given one role after the other”.

However, the justice ministry in a statement condemned the PN’s decision as “political extremism”.

“We recognize the democratic importance of holding discussions on topics that two sides may disagree on, but we strongly disagree with boycotts, walkouts and absolute negativity.”

Owen Bonnici’s ministry added that the LESA was set up to fix the holes in the “disastrous” local enforcement sector that the current government had inherited from its predecessors.

“Improvements have already been registered in its first 100 days of operation, with wardens now focusing more on protecting the environment and providing safety near schools,” the ministry said. “The role of wardens is changing – from one focused exclusively on handing out fines to one more focused on helping and educating citizens.”