Kurt Bugeja Coster
Labour claims discrimination in police promotions
The Labour Party yesterday protested against discrimination which it claims is taking place against a police superintendent and called for the "abuse" with promotions in the force to stop immediately.
Deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia and home affairs spokesman Michael Falzon said the police force was there to enforce justice and thus could not be allowed to be unjust towards its own ranks.
Dr Farrugia, a former police superintendent, signed a judicial application in which Superintendent Raymond Zammit is asking the courts to issue a warrant of prohibitory injunction to stop promotions to assistant commissioner.
The application was filed against Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Police Commissioner John Rizzo.
Supt Zammit is alleging that the selection process was vitiated because he had not been given the points he deserved, particularly for knowledge and seniority.
Five assistant police commissioners were to be appointed, and Supt Zammit placed sixth, even though he believes he should have ranked second or third. The police force felt it was not ethical to comment once the matter had not yet been decided by the court.
The Home Affairs Ministry said it was premature to reach any conclusions before first allowing the courts to look into the case.
The government, the ministry said, left the appointment of assistant commissioners to an independent board rather than issue direct orders as was the case in the past.
The selection process was based on regulations drawn up by the Public Service Commission.
Supt Zammit had featured prominently in the Egyptair hijack some two decades ago when he was a sergeant with the Special Mobile Unit (SMU).
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Frans Micallef
Dec 2nd 2008, 14:14
Discrimination is always wrong. I know because I have experienced it. I have been discriminated for many years and was deprived from being promoted without any valid reason. If there is a reason I would like to know it because I have the right to know. I would not speak for myself but many others can because they know that I do not deserve to be discriminated. I don't need a promotion for the decoration but to give a service to the force and the general public, as I always did. It seems that some do not like this. I know the taste of discrimination and the worst of it is that it seems there is no one to talk to and listen. I would have been very happy to give all my experience to the youngsters for a better service to the community before I retire. For me being discriminated is not right but its also not right for the public to be deprived from a better service. Unfortunately that's the way it is.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 30th 2008, 09:48
R Debono...Formal apology?
For what? Give us details please....
Whilst you're at it, and since you know so many things, could you tell us which members of the police force, proven to have committed atrocities, where promoted under a PN administation?
P Debono
Nov 29th 2008, 16:55
Really? I bet Dr. Anglu Farrugia knows all too well the dark history of the MLP and the police force especially in the 1980's.
Dr Farrugia, you will never be taken seriously until you issue a formal apology for the atrocities in the 1980's. And even then, you deserve nothing more than 25 more years in opposition.