As the sun set on the bustling streets of Sliema last evening, news from across the pond through the Maltese community. UK police have announced they will seek charges against 57 people in connection with the devastating Grenfell Tower fire that claimed 72 lives in 2017.

On the night of June 14, 2017, the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London, was engulfed in flames. The blaze, which started in a refrigerator in a fourth-floor flat, quickly spread due to the building’s cladding, designed to insulate but not withstand such infernos. The fire lasted for 60 hours, leaving behind a charred skeleton and a nation in mourning.

Among the victims were Maltese nationals, including 27-year-old Gloria Trevisan and her Italian fiancé Marco Gottardi. Their heart-wrenching final messages to loved ones, pleading for help as they tried to escape the inferno, still haunt those who knew them.

Nearly five years later, the wait for justice has been agonising for the families of the victims. The police investigation, one of the largest and most complex in UK history, has finally led to charges. Among those to be charged are former executives of the building’s managing agent, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), and architects involved in the building’s refurbishment.

However, the news has sparked fresh outrage among survivors and families of the victims. They argue that the charges are too little, too late. “Why has it taken so long?” asked a tearful survivor at a press conference. “We just want justice for our loved ones.”

Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, has expressed his condolences to the families of the Maltese victims. “Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in this tragic event,” he said. “We stand with them in their quest for justice.”

Local organisations, such as the Malta-based Grenfell Tower Fire Support Group, have been providing emotional and practical support to the families. They have also been campaigning for stricter fire safety regulations in Malta’s high-rise buildings.

In Valletta, the capital city, a memorial service was held last year to commemorate the victims. The event, organised by the Maltese community in the UK, was attended by hundreds of people who lit candles and laid flowers in remembrance.

The Grenfell Tower fire was a wake-up call for the UK and the world. It exposed the deadly consequences of cost-cutting and deregulation in the construction industry. It also highlighted the importance of tenant voices in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

In Malta, the tragedy has sparked discussions about fire safety in high-rise buildings. The government has announced plans to review and strengthen fire safety regulations. However, many argue that more needs to be done to ensure that buildings are safe and that tenants’ voices are heard.

As the UK police seek charges against those responsible for the Grenfell Tower fire, the families of the victims and survivors continue to fight for justice. Their struggle is a reminder that while buildings can be rebuilt, lives lost cannot be replaced. It is a call to action for all of us to ensure that such tragedies never happen again.