Deputy speaker in appeal for family members to respect their deceased loved ones' cremation wishes

Deputy speaker Claudette Buttigieg has drawn attention to the importance of respecting the wished of deceased loved ones in light of the upcoming introduction of cremation in Malta.

The PN MP, speaking during the second reading in Parliament on Thursday of the draft cremation law, which was spearheaded by Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar as a private member’s Bill, said that, since the proposed registry where one could note their wish to be cremated would not be legally binding, family members should be educated about respecting their dead relatives’ intentions.

The law, which will be legalising cremation in Malta and creating a framework to regulate it, also envisages the creation of a registry whereby those who wish to be cremated can register their intention. The registry, however, won’t be legally binding, and the relatives of that person will not be required by law to follow their cremation wish.

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“Although the crematorium register is non-binding, we shouldn’t encourage family members to disregard their relative’s wishes to be cremated. So I appeal to the people for maturity to respect their loved one’s wishes,” Buttigieg said.

“It is important for people to understand that while the register won’t be legally binding, their loved one’s wish still carries weight.”

She went on to note that the same applied in cases of people who choose not to be cremated. “In such a situation, their wish should also be respected, and the family shouldn’t decide to cremate a dead relative if they didn’t themselves want to be cremated.”

“I understand why the registry will be non-binding. But there should be an education campaign for people to understand that they should respect their love one’s wishes,” Buttigieg added.