Francis Zammit Dimech unimpressed by Home Affairs Minister’s prison visit
Former minister Francis Zammit Dimech unimpressed by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia’s personal surprise prison visit
Nationalist MP and former Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Zammit Dimech was unimpressed by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia's personal surprise visit to the Corradino Correctional Facility on Sunday evening.
The surprise visit to the Corradino Correctional Facility in Paola by home affairs minister Manuel Mallia has led to an investigation in the lax attendance of prison warders, and the announcement that prison director Abraham Zammit would be stepping down.
Zammit Dimech, who will also be contesting the PN leadership election, was speaking in Parliament during the 2013 Budget debate in an address that was characterised by several jibes against the Labour administration that ranged across several topics: from its handling of the permanent secretaries and several contentious appointments, to its large cabinet and uneven distribution of portfolios.
"The Opposition will not be accepting any excuses from this new government," Zammit Dimech said, insisting that the Opposition would be holding the Labour government accountable on its pledges.
"We will be on the lookout against any political deficit. We will be watchful for any shortfall between what was promised, and what will actually be delivered in reality."
He noted that the current administration chose to indulge in the "biggest cabinet since independence," and pointed out that despite this, the manner in which responsibilities and portfolios were distributed was uneven and "anomalous."
Zammit Dimech in particular targeted Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, saying that while certain ministers and parliamentary secretaries are responsible for very specific areas, Mallia's portfolio includes the Police, Army, Public Broadcasting, and Lands.
He said that despite this broad swath of responsibilities, the minister was nevertheless engaging in "micromanagement" by visiting locations personally to scrutinise management.
"Is this the new style of governing? I don't know..." Zammit Dimech said dismissively.
He also kept up the Opposition's pressure on the government regarding its handling of the civil service the permanent secretaries during its first week. "Did they all need to be booted out so quickly?"
He also said that it was unfortunate that certain people - among them the outgoing BOV Chairman - had to find out that they were going to be replaced through the newspapers.
Zammit Dimech also hit out at how the newly-appointed Chiefs of Staff in every ministry are enjoying better conditions and remunerations that their counterparts in the preceding PN administration.
Zammit Dimech also took the opportunity to criticise the appointment of former Nationalist MP Franco Debono to coordinate the Constitutional Convention, insisting that constitutional amendments represent "an opportunity that calls for unity and not division, maturity and not taunting."