A group of 88 men and women have joined the Civil Protection Department as volunteers for the first time in six years.
The volunteers were sworn in yesterday afternoon at the department’s Ħal Far quarters in the presence of Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia who welcomed them and thanked them for their contribution.
“You provide a significant and important service to Maltese society and now form part of a disciplinary corps,” he said. This meant that now they had the right to join a union, which was being discussed in Parliament at present. “You finally have a voice that will be heard,” Dr Mallia added.
The group, which includes six women, will boost the present number of volunteers to 138.
Dr Mallia pointed out that the new group included people from different spheres of society, including a member of the Franciscan Order.
Fr Joseph Ciappara, 30, said it meant a lot to form part of the Civil Protection Department.
“It is a great honour to be here and to be able to offer this service to the Maltese society and community, even abroad,” he said.
He turned towards volunteering because “it always fascinated me”. “As a Franciscan, I give my life in service to society and the Christian community but, as a volunteer, I will also be giving help to all of society,” Fr Ciappara said.
Not only will he be able to physically help but he could also provide spiritual support if there is need in case of disasters. “When there is danger, everyone is running away and we are called in to help and this is immensely amazing,” he added.
Fr Ciappara encouraged people to contribute through volunteering as it “is good for society”.
CPD head John Rizzo said he was honoured to have people giving their service to the country on a voluntary basis. Even though they were volunteers, they were still bound by law and the disciplinary code of the corps.
Through the draft Bill discussed in Parliament, members of disciplined corps will have the right to seek redress in the joint negotiating council, the industrial tribunal and will also be represented during collective agreement negotiations.
Last week, the government announced the setting up of a police trade union, which will be autonomous even though it would have its representatives within the internal structures of the General Workers’ Union.