Backbencher takes minister to task over security direct order

Nationalist backbencher Frans Agius has taken home affairs and justice minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici to task over a direct order issued to a security company which has been engaged in guarding migrant centres around the island.

8 August 2011, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

The contract was issued on behalf of the Agency for the Welfare for Asylum Seekers (AWAS), to Kavallier Security Services (KSS) which is run by the wife of a high-ranking officer with the Armed Forces.

MP Frans Agius has forwarded three parliamentary questions about the direct order to KSS which until last June received €46,000 in payments for services rendered.

A spokesman for the ministry of justice and home affairs told MaltaToday that the award of the direct order in question strictly followed the procedure for sealed quotations for the provision of services that can be used by the public service in emergency situations such as this one.

“Quotations were requested from five security companies. Four were submitted in sealed envelopes, while the fifth company did not submit an offer. The service provider which was awarded the contract had the cheapest offer,” he said.

The spokesman added that the Agency for the Welfare for Asylum Seekers which administers the open centres for migrants, does not have any connection whatsoever with the Armed Forces of Malta.

The ministry however failed to indicate that the majority of migrant centres are within military compounds, and matters related to their security and administration are run by a senior AFM officer.

More from Karl Stagno-Navarra

•

Kemm ghandu x'jinvestiga l-Onorevoli Dr. Frans Agius jekk irid , specjalment dwar certu permessi tal-bini li hargu qabel l-elezzjoni li ghaddiet u specjalment dwar permess li hareg lit-tifel ta-persuna li kienet tahdem fis-segretarjat tieghu meta hu kien Segretarju Parlamentari fil-Ministeru tal-Ministru Gorg Pulicino u li kien responsabbli mil-MEPA. Mhux kulhadd jaf ta' min hi l-art li hareg il-permess fuqha. Kemm hu tajjeb tkun T'HAXKEN ma xi hadd jew ikollok id-driver tieghek tista tuzah bhala postman ghall xi bicca xoghol li ma tkunx trid tidher int .

Lawrence Covin •

An acute and important comment, Mr Borg. The Minister knows well enough the difference, even when it comes to shades of meaning between words which almost mean the same. He spends a lot of time splitting hairs in parliament, but is unable to handle a cable when he sees one, it seems.14

•

tender or direct order??? DECIDE!