Well-meaning cyclist gets into trouble
George Debono, author of the report on environmental pollution being led down the steps of the Auberge de Castille, the Prime Minister's office in Valletta yesterday by the policeman on duty. True to his beliefs, Dr Debono had cycled up to Castille and was about to rest his bicycle by one of the cannon outside the PM's office but the arm of the law proved too long and he was stopped in his tracks. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
An environmentally-conscious doctor who cycled to Auberge de Castille to present the Prime Minister with a report on pollution and the state of the environment had his particulars taken by a policeman stationed there after he reportedly tried to rest his bicycle against one of the cannon there.
The incident took place at about midday yesterday when George Debono, the author of a report on pollution and energy conservation in Malta, arrived outside Castille on his bicycle.
As a photographer of The Times was taking pictures of Dr Debono on the steps of Castille, the policeman on duty walked up to him and ordered him to move away from the steps, saying that was the Office of the Prime Minister. The policeman then asked Dr Debono for his particulars and demanded to see his identity card.
Police sources said the officer had objected because Dr Debono wanted to place his bicycle next to one of the two cannon just outside the door to Castille.
The policeman on duty even told the photographer of The Times to delete any pictures he had taken. The photographer refused and the policeman then took the photographer's particulars.
When a journalist of The Times asked the policeman for an explanation as to what was happening, the officer referred the journalist to the police Community and Media Relations Unit. When the journalist reacted saying that both the officer and the police force could then react to a news story about the incident that would appear on The Times, the officer ordered the journalist to give him his particulars.
The policeman was heard calling a superior to inform him/her about what had happened and that "a journalist had taken his official number and a press photographer had taken photographs of him".
Sources said the Police Commissioner had been informed about the incident.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
Updated: Shot migrant in critical...
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Yana Mintoff: Family speaking to...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
30 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Alex Ellul
Jun 30th 2008, 23:32
The photo shows a policeman very civically showing the way down the stairs to Dr. Debono, with the latter complying in a reciprocating manner. I do not see any reason for so many negative comments on both persons. Dr. Debono made his valid point. In fact both persons should be commended for carrying out what they think is the right thing the proper way.
Ian Cilia
Jun 30th 2008, 17:09
I personally think that this was a publicity stunt.
Times photographers do not usually spend their time loitering at the front of Castille...
And good intentions notwithstanding there is a certain protocol to visit the prime minister.. let alone parking a bike in front of the door of castille... for heaven's sake... getting into castille to attend a meeting (with anyone in the building) involves pre booking by the persons within the building to vouch for you..
What did Mr Debono expect?... park his bicycle and just walk into the door carrying a plastic bag in his hand. I am sure that his intentions are good but Castille is not a bar tat te... it is the country's 2nd most important office (if not the most important) after Parliament. And I am not even mentioning security issues.
I say well done to this policeman...
Dr Debono should have phoned, gotten an appointment not try to gain publicity in the name of environment. Which is happening a lot lately.. using environmental excuses to gain exposure. And that to me decreases the credibility of good initiatives unfortunately. Which is a shame
Denis Catania
Jun 30th 2008, 16:23
Dr Debono, You need the government to install bike racks allover Malta. Then you can push for biycles. Give the Kiosks free bike racks and so on. In this case the police officer gaurding the Palace was right. Where did Mr Debono think he was going? to buy passtizzi's
E. Azzopardi
Jun 30th 2008, 14:39
I thought that the Enviornment was one of our top priorities. This gentleman tried to do something about it although the polution around us is there for all to see. And what happened about the Minister's fuss with the polluting buses altough, as I had said before, it is not only the buses but many other light vehicles too which are ruining the air we breath?
I would love to know as most of the buses are still emistting smoke in defiance? And what is this smell coming out of their tail pipes? It smells like chips oil !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On many occasions it opens my apetite!!!!
Who is protecting the citizens after 5 years in the EU??
Alfred Grech
Jun 30th 2008, 13:30
Basic common sense would tell me that I should not take the bike up where the good Doctor has taken it. The police acted accordingly to prevent him from parking it near the cannon.
Taking the bike up there to me seems provocative and if the policeman allowed it, he would have been questioned by his superior and the media would be screaming how come the police did not protect the security of the PM's office.
Paul Bonnici
Jun 30th 2008, 12:49
This is yet a repeat of what happened a while back during the riots at the stadium when the police confiscated camera memory cards from journalists. The police wanted to make sure that their appalling and unprofessional handling of the rioter did not become public. I saw photos of police officers hurling back missiles at rioters which is criminal. Have any officers been charged?
Jasmine Grech
Jun 30th 2008, 12:00
There is an etiquette to follow when visiting the PM's office especially, which I find should be observed at all times.
There are foreign Ministers and other government officials frequent the PM's office and what kind of impression would they have when seeing a bicycle rested by the Canon on the main entrance.
The police officer on guard was just doing his job to ensure the security was not intruded and by keeping the passage on the main entrance clear was for a good cause.
Nik X Conti
Jun 30th 2008, 11:51
Fantastic! One tries to bring awareness about environmental problems in a peaceful manner and get arrested. Is there no differentiation between one level of crime and another?
Pamela Hansen
Jun 30th 2008, 11:16
What an excellent publicity stunt for "on your bike". However, the policeman was only doing his job. If he had not, there would be no story. At least, he had a bottle of water in his hand not a cigarette.
Lucy PG
Jun 30th 2008, 08:57
Dr Debono, new hero! How cool is this guy! :) hehehe. I suggest the whole of malta goes up to Castille and does the same, let's see how the police officer manages to deal with that! :)
Tanja Cilia
Jun 30th 2008, 07:33
Was the cannon primed to go off at the slightest touch? Were the documents in the bag programmed to self-destruct, Mission:Impossible style, after the file was opened? Oh, bother! We shall never know, now.
Joe Martinelli
Jun 30th 2008, 06:39
What a story! What a waste of space in a once respectable newspaper!
Imagine approaching 10 Downing Street and even dare loiter let alone park a bike near the entrance!
So, a tourist walks by, camera in hand and snaps a picture of this bike leaning against one of the cannon in front of the PMO. Tongue- in- cheek comment (not in The Times) would be - 'Prime Minister's Limo -Only in Malta'
If The Times photographer was close, he probably heard the Police Officer asking Dr. Debono to remove his bike. Was perhaps the tone of the officer the problem?
The picture itself is absolutely ridiculous. If I were Dr. Debono I would be embarrassed to be photographed and let the picture be printed in any paper showing me in a two piece suit pushing my bike down the stairs escorted by a policeman.
The Times must have been alerted and the whole incident orchestrated for whatever reason one may think of.
The police officer is there for security reasons and his request that the bike be removed was reasonable. End of story. Dr. Debono could have obtained publicity in a more conventional manner.
Graham Crocker
Jun 30th 2008, 01:56
We could make a short musical out of this incident.
Mr Debono : "bicycle ..bicycle I want to ride my bicycle i want to ride my bike/.."
PC: "Bicycle!? Remove it or else..I'll..i'll.. I'll take your particulars. "
Mr Debono: "BICYCLE?! BICYCLE!!"
Pathetic...could have just told him to chain it somewhere else, instead of behaving like a drama "Queen".
john fenech
Jun 28th 2008, 20:53
Either the good Doctor was super fast to climb the steps and park the bicycle or the bobby was super slow to observe the action!
What ever what was the news item the messenger or the document?
Saviour A Ellul-Bonici
Jun 28th 2008, 19:13
OMG I've never heard anything so stupid and pathetic. This one really takes the biscuit. But if one looks closely, the picture betrays two clues: Dr Debono looks exactly like a suicide bomber(explosives in plastic bag) and the copper is holding a bottle of water. So an appropriate police explanation should be on these lines- After the courageous police officer at great personal risk convinced this vicious 72 year old criminal to abandon his infamous mission, he provided him with a cold drink of water to quench his thirst. More ridiculous than this it cannot get
J Galea
Jun 28th 2008, 18:51
Why blame the policeman for doing his job properly? and in doing so ensuring good coverage for a worthy cause.
Anton Portelli
Jun 28th 2008, 18:18
With all due respect to Dr. Debono the bicycle could have been parked against the railings and chained to them if needed. Obviously Dr Debono went for a show with press photographers accompanying him. The policeman sure did the right thing. The facade of the Prime Minister's Office is not a parking place. Lets be reasonable
A. Charles
Jun 28th 2008, 16:57
This is the best comic but pathetic story I have read for a long time. The policeman should have
looked after the bicycle whilst Dr. Debono finished his intended mission.
John Mizzi
Jun 28th 2008, 16:55
Shows us that we are still living in the 1980s! I had a similar experience last year when a policeman deleted photos from my camera at wied l-infern in Gozo. The Police officially denied that they deleted my photos. Their official denial is on http://www.gozitans.eu
Keneth Zammit Tabona
Jun 28th 2008, 16:52
That plastic bag in the picture contains a highly explosive document that will determine our future vis a vis energy conservation. Maybe that is why the policeman was so suspicious. These poor bobbies are more used to glamorous chauffer-driven limos driving up and unloading the PM's guests than an elderly but ultra fit retired doctor on his bicycle. That was definitely not on the list of probabilities! While I suppose it would have been impractical to leave the bike on the cannon it takes mere common sense for the policeman in question to have politely told Dr Debono not to worry about it and ensure that it was kept in a safe place while Dr Debono kept his appointment with the PM. Elementary, one might have thought ,but unwittingly this policeman has created a simply wonderful publicity stunt to expose all the sterling work that Dr Debono has put in the report . This PR incident will and ensure that all Malta now knows about it. Had the policeman not existed it would have been necessary to invent him!
Well done! A Gieh ir Reppublika goes to PC whatever and Dr Debono too!
Joe M. Anastasi
Jun 28th 2008, 15:34
I can only think of one stupid reason why this cop would have acted like this - to get his pic in the paper.
Well he has done - with the caption ROCK APE of the day.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jun 28th 2008, 15:19
How utterly bombastic - but completely infantile. Hail to the hero (the one dressed in blue I mean). Should it be necessary to guard a few secreted corners usually reserved for one to relieve himself of a beer one can always seek the proper man!
Julian Micallef
Jun 28th 2008, 14:28
It was obvious that Dr. Debono was in for a show (with a Times photographer to boot), or at least to make a point. How on earth does one find it acceptable to park a bike there? More sensible options in that area exist. If OPM visitors and workers using a bike were to start doing the same another picturesque facade would have gone to the pits. Is this what we want?
mark linley
Jun 28th 2008, 14:24
This guy should be sent to guard Maghtab or better still practice his officious skills in booking buses emitting noxious fumes just down the road from his present post.
Yet more crap from this pathetic Islan
Jonny
Jun 28th 2008, 13:33
What a joke, is this a person who is supposed to keep the peace and the country in order......The job of a policeman is to ensure the smooth running of the country - to serve and protect.... not instill fear because of his uniform.
N.Bonavia
Jun 28th 2008, 13:24
This policeman should be given a warning. This man apparently thinks that wearing a police uniform deserves respect over and above the man on the street. In this case, the well meaning doctor, whose ultimate aim was to present a report about pollution to ultimately help in protecting the same bully policeman, his family and all of us. Rather than just brashly ordering the Dr to move away, he could have directed the Dr to rest his bike by the side or facade of castille. Keeping rule of law so may say? Well lets see...if I was Prime Minister, I would let anyone rest his bike anyware, provide them with a cold beverage and thank them for the service they would have provided to their country and fellow citizens of the world. What this police constable did was a shame and the Police commissioner should send out an apology to this Dr and the journalist who was doing his duty. SHAME! Lets hope the force does not revert back to the 80s mentality.
John Azzopardi
Jun 28th 2008, 13:15
How ridiculous! Can the Police Commissioner place a more practical officer on guard at Castille rather than someone who is unable to handle what was surely not a a risk situation and not go off at a tangent? Incredible!
Michael Ellul
Jun 28th 2008, 12:42
Well Well. If he drove to castille with his car parking fee would be less than fine he will be getting. Polluting air is cheaper in this country. Keep poluting and save money. That's the message of this story.
J. Stivala
Jun 28th 2008, 11:20
The policeman should be awarded the Gieh ir-Repubblika for booking this horrendous criminal !
Simon Sullivan
Jun 28th 2008, 10:59
how proud this makes us feel of our tribe in blue..... gone are the days where any mis-doings were covered up and immunity was the game of the day... NAME AND SHAME !!!