Police to be paid for election overtime

Police officers will finally be paid tomorrow for the overtime worked during the general election held last March, sources said yesterday.

Back then, officers were stationed at the numerous polling stations in Malta and Gozo, the counting hall at the former Trade Fair grounds in Naxxar and in certain strategic areas.

The worst off were those responsible for the security at the counting hall as they also had to spend the night there. But they had not yet been paid for their overtime.

The issue was first raised in July, when officers working round the clock during the transport strike wondered when they would be paid for the extra hours put in both during the election and the strike.

Waiting for their dues for covering special events, in fact, is not a new thing for policemen.

Answering a parliamentary question by Labour MP Carmelo Abela, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said on Tuesday that police officers are owed nearly €21,000 for extra duties carried out between 2005 and last year, including €47.79 for extra duties in 2005, €5,739.06 for work carried out in 2006 and €15,153.57 for work done last year.

The amounts, the minister said, represented less than one per cent of the payment the force was owed for its services but efforts were still being made for the payments to be collected and made.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that between January and October this year, the force received €1,779.26 for services rendered to third parties but is still owed €315,182.19.