New court to focus exclusively on drug cases

Ramon Casha

Feb 10th, 19:32

Here's an idea. Legalise cannabis, and decriminalise drug possession for personal use, and not only can be avoid the unnecessary expense of the new drugs court, but we'd free the police to go after actual dangerous people, significantly reduce court costs and free up some room in prison so that we can put violent and dangerous people inside instead of harmless kids.

Chris Briffa

Jan 19th, 21:07

I think all the people who are commenting below have no idea what building they are talking about...

State of the Art?! Business-like?! Vanity Project!?!?!

Have a look at what this €1.8m monster looks like from Old Bakery Street...
Well done to whomever designed it and to who gave this a building permit!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150481788346755&set=a.464066011754.248138.517916754&type=1&theater

Robert Callus

Jan 18th, 23:11

A crime has to have a victim. In the personal use (not trafficking) of drugs the victim is the user himself. You can't be your own victim, it doesn't make any sense.

Decriminalize the personal use of drugs and the backlog problem will be solved. And use the money for prevention and treatment.

No state of the art building is going to help in our drug problem. What you need is common sense and political will.

http://robertcallus.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/david-caruanas-case-highlights-the-fact-that-the-war-on-drugs-has-failed/

Joe Grech

Jan 18th, 17:25

Election approaching.......
Anything to make this administration look business-like!

Ramon Casha

Jan 18th, 17:25

Fix our broken drug laws and we won't need a separate court house for these cases.

Martin Abela

Jan 18th, 17:21

I'm sure that this derelict building could not have been restored in the one-and-a-half weeks that Dr. Said has been occupying the post of Minister for Justice.

So I guess that congratulations are also in order for the former Minister for Justice Carm Mifsud Bonnici who saw this project off, along with the digital recording equipment being installed in the Courts at the moment, and the proposal for a drugs court which was already included in a bill presented by CMB last November. Ironically it was the same bill which Franco Debono spoke against so passionately.

Paul Smith

Jan 18th, 17:16

This is Just a Vanity project and a another blatant waste of Tax Payers monies in a country that S&P thinks has quite a high chance of sovereign Default hence the down grade last week.

Who gains from Prohibition and going about trying the same old failed policies time and time again? Wasn't it Einstein who said the definition of madness was doing the same thing over and over again but achieving the same failed results each and every-time?
This is who gains, Contractors whom have built the new court, surveyors, lawyers architects - that's just to get the court open, IT contractors whom will support the infrastructure, Ushers, court secretaries, Judges and lawyers again, security guards, police, custodians all sucking at the cash register of the tax payer. In the next few years, the Prisons and mental hospitals will probably be privatized to companies like Serco and Group 4 securities and prisoners sent to work an 8 hour day - until it becomes one great Big industry all to the detriment to those of us that seek enlightenment by choosing an alternative culture to the sorry arsed tried and tested one.

Victor Vella

Jan 18th, 15:31

After the problem of drugs has turned to a cancer, the PN minister got up from a deep coma.

A Spiteri

Jan 18th, 15:04

the stupid War on Drugs continues to waste more resources!

Julian Cassar

Jan 18th, 14:17

Once again we are looking at the problem from the wrong angle and from a very conservative point of view, the drug addict is NOT the Criminal, but in reality is the Victim. The current policy of Drug prohibition throughout he years did not result in a better society, but has only resulted in the creation of a whole infrastructure set up to support this failed policy of prohibition, at a great cost to the tax payer and police resources.

In no way am I saying that Soft/Hard drugs should be legalised, but neither should people be criminalised for themselves being a victim of crime, our taxes and officers should be better used to catch the traffickers and pushers and not persecute the victims. Even if setting up a specialised court is to be applauded, without the necessary changes in legislation I feel we will be throwing more money at the problem without tackling the root cause.

saviour spiteri

Jan 18th, 13:45

mr portelli missu ferahlu lil dr said li kieku amlu ministru ta ghawdex mhux halla lil dik li tahseb li i alla u lilu tefaw awn malta jaqsam il fliegu kuljum sur portelli

Lawrence Fenech

Jan 18th, 13:32

I was under the impression that there already was one at Corradino!

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Jan 18th, 13:19

DR CHRIS SAID -----------------first of all WELCOME ON BOARD.....................your task is immense and no irony meant,it would not appear that you have much time in even seeing this project take off. The Building called THE FAMILY COURT formally inaugurated on December 16, 2003, by then Minister for Justice TONIO BORG, now Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs, was NEVER EVER adequate for its intended objectives which are :

1. The Welfare and Privacy of the Persons being constrained to make use of The Family Court;

2. An Adequate Court Registry, Suitable Mediation Rooms & a Meditation Room [ no joke this !! ];

3. Adequate Common Room for THE MEDIATORS;

4. Adequate suitably -trained Court Staff + a Registrar to coordinate their overall requirements;

5. Consulting Rooms for Law Practitioners & Clients;

6. Suitably Planned Rest Rooms ;

7. Adequate Security Arrangements including an Emergency Exit;

8. Adequate Communications Systems with other Courts & Administrative Offices;

9. Adequate Check-On Electronic Board for Latest Information on Ongoing Procedures;

10. Adequately Spaced Court Halls;

11. A whole Floor dedicated to the Criminal Family Court with adjoining Halls for Presiding Magistrate, the Staff, and a spaced area for the persons involved, including the Prosecution and Defence .

12.A clear cut independence from the other Courts of Justice.

=========================================================THESE ARE BUT A FEW OF THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURAL MATTERS THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, matters I have raised many-a-time over the air, in print and private discussions.

Did you grasp these Dear Chris ?

Now...............................................................get hold of the TOP BRASS running the show behing your BACK -----some of them must not be there as there is alot going on which stultifies the very concept of a transparent, systrem of justice. See that the Staff is not regularly changed as has been the practice in these past years; and that the Court Files are adequately secure. Had it not been for a Court Messenger, we would not even have had an Archives for the Family Court fast-growing decided Cases.

So much to do................................naturally an adequate Family Court Building needed but these matters have to be addressed by well-intentioned persons not by ridiculously-looking Safety Helmets Persons posing for the Media as an election prank !!

Joseph Micallef

Jan 18th, 13:09

As if the People are interested in this non-sense issue at the moment!!! The People's interest now is on the General Election issue with (in my opinion) the majority wanting a General Election soon!!! Dak li ma sarx f'erba snin se jipprovaw jaghmluh f'gimghatejn jew tlieta. Tell it to the marines!!!

Jonathan Camilleri

Jan 18th, 12:47

So, this is necessary right?

Pia Attard

Jan 18th, 12:29

NEW LAWS NOT NEW BUILDINGS!!! that is what we need!

This is the most ridiculous thing i've eve heard! Most of these cases are the taxpayer's waste of money, now we're adding the cost of a building to this!?

Change the laws you fools, and stop with this ridiculous election panic!

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Jan 18th, 12:23

Stop fooling Maltese about your plans. Just do it. Launch a latrine at least as you did when I was last in Malta.

Tonio Micallef

Jan 18th, 12:19

Bdiet it-tellieqa! Min se jidher l-aktar fuq it-TV u l-media. Election frenzy!!!

S Micallef

Jan 18th, 12:10

new court so we can dish out more suspended sentences!

Chris Said should have never been appointed a minister let alone minister of Justice!!!

He's the guy that wanted to pursue the tunnel between Malta and Gozo!!!!!

David Caruana

Jan 18th, 12:06

Oh god! Election panic! Look busy!

Sorry but it's too little and too late! While having a Drugs Court is a move in the right direction, you are still lagging way behind our European partners.

Classification of drugs and a deep reform of drug laws is desperately needed. But then again, maybe the PN doesn't want to hurt the business of individuals who would loose revenue if soft drugs were to be legally regulated.

It would make sense, especially with the dirty party financing law which was shot down by Greco.

PN - you've had the time to deliver, yet you keep dragging your feet.

GAME OVER

Joseph Portelli

Jan 18th, 11:55

Prosit Chris!! Nawgurawlek hafna snin ta' hidma bhala Ministru tal-Gustizzja. Naf li int u Franco hbieb kbar. Il-Prim Ministru ghamel lilek Ministru tal-Gustizzja m'ghamilx wiehed li ma jarax ghajn m'ghajn ma Franco. Lawrence Gonzi dejjem prova jisma lil Franco - malli qasamlu l-ministeru tal-gustizzja u l-intern (kif ried Franco), flok ferah ghax qasam il-ministeru, flok ferah ghax ghazel lil Chris (habib kbir tieghu), irribella u qed jhedded li se jwaqqa l-gvern!!!! Mhux car x'kien il-motiv ta' Franco Debono??? Ma tridx tkun wisq gharef.