GWU planned to hold two protests each day

The General Workers' Union had originally applied to stage two protests each day - one in the morning and one in the evening - throughout the week of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg revealed yesterday.

Later the union decided it would only hold one protest, on Thursday evening, he said.

Dr Borg was speaking at a press conference on CHOGM security issues together with Health Minister Louis Deguara, Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela, Police Commissioner John Rizzo and AFM Commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo.

He said security was one of the prime concerns during the meeting and it was being taken very seriously.

It was bound to cause "several minor, temporary inconveniences" such as mobile telephone jamming while cars with heads of government are being driven through particular areas, Mr Rizzo said.

Temporary stoppages and re-routing of traffic on the airport ring roads while aircraft were landing or in areas through which the heads of government were being driven were also to be expected, he said.

For security reasons, the routes to be followed will not be announced in advance but the disruptions are not expected to be of long duration.

"Between 8.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on one day, we have to escort the heads of government from the Golden Sands to Valletta, so one can imagine it will be a bit hectic at that time. But the measures are essential from a security standpoint and we are keeping disruptions to the barest minimum," Mr Rizzo said.

The Police Commissioner urged people travelling to Valletta on Thursday and Friday to use public transport. Several areas in and around Valletta and Floriana and the road leading to the Golden Sands will be out of bounds for traffic and no parking will be allowed while activities related to the summit are in progress.

A control centre has been set up at the police headquarters, in Floriana and an army officer and Civil Protection and Health Department personnel will be there to coordinate action while the Commonwealth summit is underway.

A shift system has been introduced for the police, who are working eight hours on, eight hours off for the duration of the summit. Soldiers are working on a 12 hours on, 12 off roster and special sections, such as those working in the bomb disposal unit, have been working closely with the police.

Mr Rizzo said cooperation with foreign security forces has been very intense and several meetings were held with representatives of most countries.

Heads of government are bringing their personal security officers but ultimately responsibility for security rests with the police and the army. The latter will be responsible for the security at the airport while the police will be more engaged with the logistics related to the CHOGM venues.

The army and the police will have overlapping duties and the drivers of the heads of government will all be soldiers who have been identified and trained for the job. AFM reserves are also involved in airport security.

The carcades in which the heads of government will be travelling will be watched by AFM helicopters which will transmit images of the streets along the route to the control room. Patrol boats will be stationed at sea off each venue and maritime exclusion zones have been established.

The Department of Health has been roped in and the national disaster contingency plan updated. A mobile inflatable decontamination tent has been purchased. Mobile medical teams have been set up and clinics will be mounted at sites where the main events are taking place.

"CHOGM was used as a springboard to develop and enhance several areas where investment was needed, but this will be used for years to come.

"We hope the things we have planned for contingencies will prove to have been unnecessary in the end but in events such as these, one can leave nothing to chance," Dr Borg said.