Borg: Authorities were not informed of prison abuses before 2008

M Cassar

Dec 17th 2011, 09:56

One notes the qualifiying phrase ''female section of the prisons'', in the last sentence of this article, and instantly feels sick at the implication!

Is the intelligence of the law abiding citizen regarded so lowly, by those who should be leading by example, from whichever side of the political arena they hail!!

Jay Oatmon

Dec 16th 2011, 08:55

Why do these 'wheels' need to be informed - why do they not ask the required questions in writing to those who supervise the prison? If this was done whoever 'signed off on the report' would be accountable - I think this is a cop out by incompetents at best or 'in cahoots' at worst.

Mariano Camilleri

Dec 15th 2011, 21:13

thats why inspections are done all the time so authorities know whats happening so this is just an excuse they didnt know. how can malta not keep under control just 1 prison and everywhere else they have hundreds and kept more under control then malta...are the authorities being funny or are they drunk when they are at work???how come they dont know when malta is so small and everyone knows????

Robert Pace Bonello

Dec 15th 2011, 17:48

Incredible comment but nothing amazes me any more

M Cassar

Dec 15th 2011, 17:20

The decent thing to do would be to work out that those working in contact with the inmates knew what was going on, they saw the TVs etc etc and the dominant behaviour, those at the very top are saying they were not informed. Someone in between must have been comfortable with the situation although it was his/her duty to prevent abuse. Was THAT investigated, or was it not in the remit of the investigative officers?

But then the warder said that this was a naughty inmate, a well informed diagnosis indeed!! Does a lot to enlighten us about the nature of the rehabilitation being dished out!

Joseph Calleja

Dec 15th 2011, 17:17

I have one big question: What is going to happen to those inmates that ratted out on her majesty when she returns to her throne? Wouldn't you think there would be some kind of reprimand by her Majesty? Even some of the guards are afraid of her. Shouldn't she be isolated to protect the other inmates and the guards? Did the judge think about this situation?

Mr F J Brincat

Dec 15th 2011, 16:31

"Ma nafx u ma niftakarx" .....

Victor Pulis

Dec 15th 2011, 15:06

Jekk it tifel taht l-eta jiehu l -karozza ta'missieru u jikkawza incident biha missieru jigi akkuzat írresponsabbilita? Qed nistaqsi ghax jien minix avukat.

Victor Pulis

Dec 15th 2011, 15:00

the authorities were not informed at the time about the drug trafficking and abuses which had been going on in the women's section. Minister Borg.
And whose responsibility is it to inform the ministry of such goings on? I hope someone knows!!

Francis Mercieca

Dec 15th 2011, 14:46

Good excuse Mr. Minister. All parents wait for their kids to tell them that they are being naughty! if of course they are 'useless' parents. Then on another point, it seems that some prisoners fare been inside prisons. We spend so much money to implement our penal laws, to supposedly correct and get the criminals back to 'the fold', but what we are really doing is giving criminals a chance to improve their tactics and be better prepared to carry on with their criminal actives after they leave prisons. We call this a 'correctional facility' - big joke!

Joe Muscat

Dec 15th 2011, 14:38

What a load of rubbish.... RESIGN and stop wasting our money...!

Joseph Calleja

Dec 15th 2011, 14:26

I think it is again time for the PM to say " THE BUCK STOPS HERE" and take over this Ministry too.. Air Malta, Arriva and now the Prison System. When are you going to wake up DR Gonzi and start shuffling your Ministers or hand them all resignation applications? It seems that the only papers you know how to hand out is Pay Raise announcements and that seems to work well for you. One fiasco after the other and there is no end in sight. When did the guards and the Warden learn about what was going on in their prison? Did they know and maybe looked the other way till this all came up in the courts? Hallina Guz? So is the Warden going to be held responsible? Are the guards involved going to be disciplined or are they still scared of Her majesty Queen Bickle?

Ms.D. Galea

Dec 15th 2011, 14:14

Dr Borg , it was your business to know what went on in the prison.

F. Pisani

Dec 15th 2011, 14:05

Xarabank makes a problem every single year about drugs, and trafficing of drugs, and every single time there is a person saying that the first time they came in conntact with drugs was withen the premises of the prison. is it possible that no one took any notice?

Dr Hermann Paul Farrugia

Dec 15th 2011, 14:04

From: DR HERMANN P. FARRUGIA
MD,. DU (Endocrinology & Metabolism )Univ .PARIS V Rene Descartes

AS A MALTESE CITIZEN AND EVEN MORE, AS A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, LET ME FIRST MAKE IT AMPLY CLEAR THAT, IN MY VIEW , HE OR SHE WHOEVER TRAFFICS ANY SUBSTANCE OF POTENTIALLY IRREVERSIBLE SERIOUS INTOXICATION / DEPENDANCE AND THIS FOR PERSONAL GAIN OR ADVANCEMENT &, BY COROLLARY , HE OR SHE WHO MAY BE IN ANY WAY ENTRUSTED TO ACTUALLY PREVENT OR REPORT THIS CRIME & THEREBY FAILS AWAY FROM HIS OR HER CIVIC DUTIES, COMMITS A DESPICABLE ACT OF INJUSTICE NOT ONLY TO THE IMMEDIATE VICTIM/S BUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

HAVING STATED THIS, I CANNOT BUT FEEL THAT IT IS TOTALLY UNJUST ON READERS' PART TO ATTEMPT TO GAIN POLITICAL MILEAGE BY PUTTING THE BLAME OF SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE & UNCIVIC BEHAVIOUR ON THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE & THE INTERIOR.
MAY I BE ALLOWED TO REMIND READERS & COLLEAGUES WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER,THAT STATEMENTS & CLAIMS BY WITNESSES AT A JURY ARE CONVENIENTLY HYPERBOLISED BY THE MEDIA: EVIDENCE EMANATING AT A JURY IS SIMILAR TO THE FINDINGS OF A MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION IN A LABORATORY.
NO DOCTOR OF MEDICINE OR SURGEON ACTUALLY KNOWS THE TYPE OR DETAILED EVOLUTIVE CHARACTERISTIC AND ACTUAL DEADLY ACTIVITY OF A TUMOUR MASS BEFORE IT IS FINALLY EXPOSED TO HISTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION. AN EXPERIENCED CLINICIAN MAY COME TO SUSPECT MALIGNANCY AT A PRECOCIOUS STAGE & THEREBY EFFECTIVELY PREEMPT DELITERIOUS SPREAD BUT HE IS STILL NOT AUTHORISED TO INSTITUTE RADICAL THERAPY BEFORE HIS SUSPICIONS ARE SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN.

IN THIS CASE , THE JURY IS A JUDICIAL PROCEEDING THAT HOPEFULLY HAS HELPED TO SHED MORE LIGHT ,
AND AFTER THAT, AS IN MEDICINE & SURGERY , EVERYONE IS ALL THE WISER & SMARTER.

HERMANN P. FARRUGIA

Mr l Azzopardi

Dec 15th 2011, 13:54

Even if you did not know .....in itself ...it says a lot Dr Borg.

It means you were not in touch with people falling directly under your responsability.

Its simply not good enough...

Victor Borg

Dec 15th 2011, 13:51

Imbghad il prim ministru qalilna li tahtu l-pajjiz miexi fuq ir-rubini. Qalilna wkoll li zzieda li hadu bil mohbi kienet xi haga li haqqhom, dan wara li hafna mil ministri qedin jghamlu daqshekk zbalji.

Patrick Zammit

Dec 15th 2011, 13:16

And this guy got a E500 weekly increase to boot.

Maybe, Dr Gonzi was right to say that his choice for ministers was limited.

J. Scicluna

Dec 15th 2011, 13:08

"Ignorance is no excuse"!

alfred seguna

Dec 15th 2011, 13:05

NISTAQSI:E.U. mit taxxi biss jinteresshom u l'Euro.Micc-Cittadini li jesperjenzaw dawn l'inkompetenzi mill- gvernijiet jigu jaqaw u jqumu.Isibu in nuqqasijiet li bihom il poplu jehel iktar taxxi bhala kastig ghan nuqqas tal -gvern.

Tonio Bone

Dec 15th 2011, 12:54

I am totally convinced that Dr Borg is a person of high integrity, but it is also a fact that he is a politician which at times dents one's credibility. Having said that I have no reason to doubt that he in person might not have known what was going on, but if the whole of Malta knows what goes on at Corradino Inn how can he say the 'authorities did not know'.
I believe the President is pressing for constitutional changes, and I also believe that the world ACCOUNTABILITY should be given top priority!

alfred seguna

Dec 15th 2011, 12:49

Not to know what is happening is already a DISGRACE.After all around each Ministry there are a lot of Bazuzli .How could they not inform the ministry on what is happening.Or their only concern is only to spy on those of different opinion.I think that this is not TRUE because to day on TVAM programme i listened to an interview of a guest who gave me the impression that there were certain reasons why he resigned.The impression I got is that the Ministry was well informed.View the recording of the programme.It is very convinient to say I didn,t know.

monica cauchi

Dec 15th 2011, 12:45

Ever heard of the programme XARABANK, Mr. Minister... maybe you missed the one that dealt with this problem.. GO has 'programmes on demand', maybe you can trace it down.

funny how il popolin knows these facts.
I might agree with Mr. Minister that HE WAS NOT INFORMED, but although he was not informed, he knew about them, like the rest of us.

just a play on words to justify his position.

Rocco Camilleri

Dec 15th 2011, 12:36

SKANDLU wiehed fuq l-iehor u alla jbierek kollox xejn mhu xejn, anzi nghidu li mexjien fuq ir-rubini. Mela kellna tal-VAT, kellna ta' l-imhalfin, issa ghandha din u min jaf x'ghadd jonqos johrog izjed. U mela noqghodu nsemmu l-passat ta' Raymond Caruana fejn suppost Dr.Fenech Adami niftakar jghid li jaf min . Din x'sejeta Hi f'dan il-pajjiz ???????? Ara l-KAREN GRECH alla jbierek ma' semmietx ghax qiesha mhiex bniedma ukoll. Ma' nixtieqx niftah feriti imma xi kultant ma' tistax ma'tara dan kollu madwarek. Il-Gustizzja trid tidher u mhux nitkellmuha biss.

Henry Mifsud

Dec 15th 2011, 12:36

Borg: Authorities were not informed of prison abuses before 2008.

This is not what was stated by Dr. Mario Felice this morning on TVAM. Notary Felice did not mince words when he gave specific reasons as to why he resigned in 2008 from the Chairmanship of the Board of Visitors to the Prisons. He confirmed that not only the Ministry was well informed but they simply did not want to listen.

Now who should be accountable for all this if not the Minister?

Quo Vadis Malta?

Franco Attard Trevisan

Dec 15th 2011, 12:34

whichever way you see it Tonio Borg has failed to do his job right when he was home affairs minister ..... If he did not know about it, than he is an incompetent man who doesn't know what's going on in his ministry... If he knew about it and let it happen he is an accomplice... Whichever way you say it, the bottom line is you messed up mate!

Mr Mark Borh

Dec 15th 2011, 12:26

Well, it is up to the minister to make sure that things are running smoothly, it shouldn't be something that needs to be reported.

michael fenech

Dec 15th 2011, 12:16

Is GonziPN stll in the country?If he is dose he have anything to say about this mass maybe??????????

Manuel Camilleri

Dec 15th 2011, 12:13

The the people, the warders and all those involved and who let this woman live as a "queen" in prison, should be accountable and resign immediately

Thomas Vella

Dec 15th 2011, 12:11

Gvern mibni fuq il gideb ! Dak li ghandna go dan il pajjiz
Tirrazenjawx jew le xorta mux ha tergaw titilaw ! Jrid jkun poplu bahnan bix jerga jivvutawlkom u jien mux se nkun wiehed minnhom !

Joseph Grima

Dec 15th 2011, 12:06

Mhux hekk? Ignorance is bliss

Mr Charles Falzon

Dec 15th 2011, 12:05

RESIGN please.....tahwid kbir f' kull ministeru u hadd ma jirrizenja. Tal misthija.

Charles Mangion

Dec 15th 2011, 11:53

Labour MP C.Mangion resigned for much smaller mistake how about u Tonio C.Mangion

O. Tretyak

Dec 15th 2011, 11:52

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20060623/local/addict-put-on-probation-after-mother-pleads-against-prison-term.49905

"I would like you to order him to undergo a rehabilitation programme immediately.

"When he was there (in prison) previously, he would call me, asking me to put money in this man's and that man's account to pay for the drugs he was buying there," she continued.

The Magistrate was about to pass sentence in a case involving a number of thefts committed between April and June after 27-year-old Jurgen Xerri and 19-year-old Donna Camilleri admitted to the charges brought against them.

The Magistrate empathised with the mother's plea: "If the Corradino Correctional Facility were really correctional we would not need to make these legal summersaults but unfortunately it is not," he said in reaction to a legal argument between the prosecution and the defence regarding the sentence appropriate in the case.

Inspector Goeffrey Azzopardi countered, saying that the police were fighting drugs wherever they were present, but the Magistrate shot back with a question that remained unanswered: "Do you have any doubts?" he said, referring to the existence of drugs in prison.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110814/local/-Now-I-want-to-be-left-alone-.380106

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20070109/local/drugs-found-in-heels-of-boots.30197

Jeffrey Mallia

Dec 15th 2011, 11:39

Failing to know the past events is not an excuse........Stating this fact, means the minister is admitting his imcompetence in his post............Whichever's stand, he is responsable...........ix xafra taqta min giex nahat sur ministru.

Mr Stanley Fenech

Dec 15th 2011, 11:18

If what we were told during these hearings, the authorities of the prisons were involved in the scenario, how would the Minister expect that the Ministry is informed? It has to come from the Ministry itself to make sure that spot checks and incognito checks from independent patrols are held periodically to monitor the running of the prisons and any irregularities are as such reported and action taken against the perpetrators.

It is becoming a habit in this country for the highest authorities to escape or distance themselves from any responsibilities.

Manuel Micallef

Dec 15th 2011, 11:13

Please don't take us for a ride! Political accountability is part and parcel of good governance! If the Minister was not informed then it shows that the same Minister was not monitoring and scrutinising the ongoings under his portfolio - a good example of maladministration and lack of responsibility to say the least. My question is simple: what actions have been taken in this respect since 2008? Are we back to square one? The Minister and the Director of Prison have changed faces since then but what changes or reform have been carried out to transform this place into a rehabilitation centre or correctional facility? Is it a case of jumping from the frying pan into the fire? Unless an independent public inquiry is carried out immediately we would never know what is happening at Corradino Prison....

George Azzopardi

Dec 15th 2011, 11:10

I do hope that the PM has taken note of this and that whilst everything looks so good from the outside, the inner side roths. Minister concerned has yet failed again in prison reforms. Prison director should immediately resign after this scandal!

adrian agius

Dec 15th 2011, 11:05

AGAIN.....AGAIN.....AND AGAIN.,.....

ONLY IN MALTA !!!!!

Lawrence Buontempo

Dec 15th 2011, 11:03

NO comment.

Or rather :- yea as if!

Happy Christmas and a happy new year people.

NB: please do not worry and get angry about such stories. Do like the persons responsible: Smile and let your day breeze by till you get your abbundant monthly salary.

Live a stressless life. Some people at the helm can teach us a few things about such a lifestyle.

Saviour Vella

Dec 15th 2011, 10:59

So for what reason have you taken the 500 euros weekly pay rise?

Victor Vella

Dec 15th 2011, 10:56

Il-Gidba tas-seklu.

mark johnson

Dec 15th 2011, 10:55

They didn't want to wake him.

Gordon Farrugia

Dec 15th 2011, 10:53

DAN SKANDLU OHXON - lanqas fil-films ma tara l-intricci li kienu qed isiru fil-habs ta kordin u Tonio Borg frisk bhal hassa!!! u jekk ma jirrizenjax fuq din hu komplici ta dak li kien qed isir ghax hu kien responsabbli mil-habs dak iz-zmien.

Mela l-ewwel kellna tal-VAT, issa dan - x'hemm aktar mohbi!!!!??? Vera rasna mistrieh eeeh b'dan il-gvern kif kienu jghidu il-billboards.

Jo Meli

Dec 15th 2011, 10:49

I do NOT believe you Tonio.

Whoever is responsible for such obscenities has to RESIGN, if not SAKED !

Do this in atonement of your Government SINS against the Republic of Malta and Her People.

G Buhagiar

Dec 15th 2011, 10:49

It was the Minister reponsibility to check and see if there were any abuses taking place at Corradino Facility. The statement, "authorities were not informed" is unacceptable", he had the authority to investigate and assure that such cases would not happen.

From the newspaper we read, that whenever Josette Bickle wanted something she would call the prison director and obtains what she requested! UNBELIEVABLE!

I think that further investigations should be made; it seems that other persons might be involved in this ridiculous 'teledrama'.

william cauchi

Dec 15th 2011, 10:45

So if the boss of a manufacturing plant says ''I was not informed that the products my factory was producing were poisoning people''.

Is that enough for him to get away scot free. Or will he face the music as he, 'the boss'' should have made it his business to know.

Seems that in Malta, the first applies.......well only to certain categories and not others.

Emanuel Zahra

Dec 15th 2011, 10:28

Just Unbelievable!

Saviour M Garzia

Dec 15th 2011, 10:27

The 2nd leader of the party in government does not know what took place under his rule?,then he should return the 500 euro increase as he failed to do his job! How about the Ministers for the month of December relinquish the 500euro towards l-Istrina?

Willie Sammut

Dec 15th 2011, 10:22

What is Playmoil and Bank of Valletta going to do considering that their well intentioned money went for drugs?

ALBERT FENECH

Dec 15th 2011, 10:21

Did this Minister also get a é500 a week raise to his salary? So a prisoner deals drugs, beats wardens, attacks the Director of Prison, acts as a dominatrix over other prisoners, has four television sets in her cell etc and has the prison authorities help shift her stuff when she leaves prison - and nobody notices anything, knows anything and the Minister ultimately responsible knows nothing at all...and we get to know all about this three years later! Would somebody please pull my other leg - it might have bells on.

ALBERT FENECH

D. A . Agius

Dec 15th 2011, 10:20

Il-malti jghid... "iz-zejt jitla f'wicc l-ilma"

Inzidha bicca jien. "Jekk qatt johrog mill-blat!"

U tghid mhux se jigi l-futur Ministru tal- Intern u jaghmel tindifa hux?

Eddie Attard

Dec 15th 2011, 10:19

It seems that the real problem at Corradino is not the prisoners but a percentage of the prison staff.

Francis Attard

Dec 15th 2011, 10:19

Jiena darba kelli van u darba fost-ohrajn twaqqaft fit-triq u sarli test ta' l-'exhaust' permezz ta' strument li iddahhal gewwa s-'silencer'. Minn dan it-test irrizulta illi l-kwalita ta' l-'exhaust' kienet taqbes il-limiti accettabbli u, minkejja, li jien ghidt lil dawk li aghmluli t-test illi jien ma kellix strument bhal taghhom u, ghaldaqstant, ma stajtx inkun naf li l-kwalita ta' l-'exhaust' ma kienetx accettabbli, xorta wahhluli citazzjoni.
Ghaldaqstant, jien ma nista qatt naccetta l-iskuza li gab il-ministru.

Joseph Grech Attard

Dec 15th 2011, 10:18

Whether the ministry was informed or not, it is responsible for the running of the prisons, good and bad. Besides, it has been heard many a time on local radio & TV stations that drug trafficking is rampant at the prisons. Pilate washed his hands, but he is still responsible for Jesus' death! So is the ministry, whoever was in charge at the time or is now!. Facts are facts!

john vella

Dec 15th 2011, 10:16

Monday December 12, 2011
Cartoon of the day
Vote Gonzi! . . . and it is more of the same.

C Muscat

Dec 15th 2011, 10:15

Mela biex jattapjaw ta min riedu seghu u xi hage li ghandhom dritt bil-ligi (fejn tidhol droga) ma ghamluhiex. U qabel u issa naccettaw li ma ahniex kapaci nzommu d-droga milli tidhol gol-habs!!!! Meta ser nibdew nattakaw il-vizzju u il-kummerc tad-droga??? Meta ser niehdu hsieb lil uliedna???

Maria Debono

Dec 15th 2011, 10:08

is this ''queen'' going to be allowed to reign again?

Joe A. Borg

Dec 15th 2011, 10:07

The problem with this country it that no one takes responsability!

That is the problem when ANY administration gets too confortable.

But then it is alway the small frey that gets it!

Francis Sammut

Dec 15th 2011, 10:04

''Ignorance Is Bliss!''

John Baldacchino

Dec 15th 2011, 10:01

"At no time was the Ministry informed of these going ons in the female section of the prisons," !

You are out of touch and do not know what is happening, then what are your duties as a minister of Home Affairs ? just to collect the extra EURO 500 a week which only that is equvalent for twice my monthly pay! shame...........Shame.......Shame.................... The title is just right "Forign Minister"

Paul Micallef

Dec 15th 2011, 09:56

U hallina. jigifiri hadd iehor kien imkasbar, U DIN IR-REGINA kinet flussu, u tejdli li hadd makien jaf??? U il-genituri ta dawn in-nies qatt ma rapportaw????SERJETA XEJN.

Philip Pace

Dec 15th 2011, 09:48

I have to say that the Minister's statement is unacceptable. Is he playing like the three monkeys, then?

Mr Daniel Jones

Dec 15th 2011, 09:46

Informed? You were in charge, it was your job to know what was happening under your jurisdiction.

I think we understand now what Gonzi meant when he said his talent pool was too shallow.

J Borg

Dec 15th 2011, 09:45

There was the ex - visitors committee president on TVAM this morning, who made it clear that he had resigned at the time, as the Ministry knew what was happening but refused to do anything about it.

victor caruana

Dec 15th 2011, 09:43

Perfect management.....bonuses paid as well!!!!!

Joseph N. Attard

Dec 15th 2011, 09:37

"Authorities were not informed"....Then there was a gross dereliction of duty by someone. These 'someone' should be sought out and a full enquiry held. Culprits should be punished accordingly. The least one expects is that they are thrown out of Government employment as unfit for the job.

PAUL BUSUTTIL

Dec 15th 2011, 09:34

"At no time was the Ministry informed of these going ons in the female section of the prisons," Dr Borg said when questioned"
The Ministry should make it Its business to know what is going on in its Prisions, not knowing is a poor excuse and heads should fly !

Noel Mifsud

Dec 15th 2011, 09:27

Nahseb qabel it 2008 qatt ma kien hemm abbuza ta droga fil habs skond il ministru, u jekk kien hemm ma saritx tfittixja sew. Pero l mistoqsija tieghi taf x inhi, jekk il habs huwa over populated kif dil mara kellha cella extra bhal store ghal 4 tvs sound system u ma nafx xi izjed. Sur Ministru tkomplic idahhaq il poplu please, jien ghalija min kien responsabblu ghandu jitkecca u minn kien ministru ghandu jirrizenja, mhux jigi ibellahilna l l awtoritajiet ma kienux jafu.

Joseph Borg

Dec 15th 2011, 09:26

Ignorance is no excuse dear Ministry!....RESIGN!