Mallia: ‘No one will stop me from doing my job’

Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said "no one will stop him" from doing his job after Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi said Mallia was not fit for the job.

Addressing parliament on the budget vote for home affairs, Mallia said it had been his responsibility to visit the Corradino Correctional Facility, "contrary to my predecessor who, in five years, never set foot at the prisons".

He said this inspection had revealed that punch clocks and CCTV didn't work and guard dogs who were "pets".

"I embarked on a reform of the prisons which was left in disarray by the previous administration," he said, adding that the government's crackdown on drugs at the prisons was leaving fruition.

"We have a zero tolerance attitude towards drugs at the prisons and for the first time, effective security was introduced together with rehabilitation. Surprise urine tests also being carried out on CCF personnel and those who test positive are fired."

In a spirited speech, Mallia said no threats from the Opposition side will tarnish his determination and effect him in his role as minister.

He said, that the Faculty of Architecture was working on the design of a new wing for young offenders. Mallia said the overhaul of the CCF had also addressed the "daylight robbery" of the racket that had engulfed the prison's tuck shop.

"Looking forward, and with new enthusiasm, we have allocated an extra €300,000 for the home affairs budget," he said, announcing the setting up of new structures to assess inmates.

Plans include the maintenance of the forensic ward at Mount Carmel Hospital and the construction of a YOURS section. Another proposal was for private companies to outsource their services, allowing inmates to work for these companies from CCF.

A public call will be issued for a music teacher while the play room for inmates' children would soon be completed.

"Jason Azzopardi should wake up and start looking at all this positive work we are doing. He should wake up and inject a bit of life in the PN," Mallia said.

On the Armed Forces of Malta, Mallia said 24 soldiers took part in an EU operation against piracy off the coast of Somalia. For the second consecutive year, AFM's King Air was used for a whole month in a Frontex operation.

"This year the AFM saved over 2,000 persons caught out at sea," he said, adding that the AFM and the Police Corps joined forces in operations to apprehend criminal organizations.

During 2013, the AFM were involved in a number of capital projects both financed by the Maltese government and the EU.

"The government will continue investing in the AFM during next year and has voted over €40 million, an increase of €800,000 over the previous allocations," he said.

€230,000 have been allocated to send soldiers on several missions outside the country. For the training of the AFM, the government has allocated €340,000.

Among several other projects, the government plans on the development and the restoration of a hangar, previously used by the RAF. The project will cost €2.3 million and will be co-financed by the European Union.

Another €4.2 million, partly financed by the EU, will be allocated for the modernization of the building of the AFM's maritime base. €1.7 million will be allocated for the installation of new fuel storage tanks.

Mallia said that all World Cup games will be screened for free for 2014, 2018 and 2022.

"PBS audience will be watching 64 football matches for free," he said.

PBS and RAI also reached an agreement on the training and development of human resources between the two national entities. The agreement will include training for journalists, producers and technical experts.

Mallia said the government had clear visions for the film industry in Malta. The Film Commission has developed a new detailed marketing plan on an international level.

Measures include the reduction of red tape for permits and the introduction of a public private partnership for the development of a sound stage.

The government will for the first time allocate funds for the co-production of films, with a total investment of €1 million.

€250,000 have been allocated for the Malta Film Fund while further grants would be issued.

Mallia announced that once the land of the Rinella Film Studios is returned to the Lands Department - pending an appeals judgement - an expression of interest will be issued.

For the Civil Protection Department, the government has allocated an additional €215,000. He revealed that CPD members, under the former administration, used to be given second-hand protective uniforms from other member states.

The government was in the process of rewriting the Malta Disaster Master Plan.

Funds for the Police Corps have increased by €1,400,000. Among the projects planned for the Police Corps, Mallia referred to the completion of the Police Academy, the purchasing of new motorcycles, minibuses, dogs, SUVs and equipment to identify number plates.