Manuel Mallia was yesterday given a hero’s welcome as he walked into a white tent hosting a public consultation meeting in Valletta, exactly two weeks after the shooting incident involving his driver that has led to calls for his resignation.
The Home Affairs Minister was greeted with loud applause amid chants of “Manuel, Manuel”.
The scene was reminiscent of his visit to the Corradino Correctional Facility last year, when prisoners were told they would be granted amnesty to mark Labour’s victory.
Yesterday, the warm welcome made him emotional and the support encouraged him, Dr Mallia told those gathered for a session with the minister in the “Government that listens” series. Because of a “certain incident”, he said, without referring directly to the shooting, the Opposition had tried to shift attention away from the Budget.
Later, he reiterated what he said in Parliament on Monday in reply to criticism that the country was returning to the 1980s: during those years he had battled abuse and public violence and now, as minister responsible for national security, he would not accept a return to those times.
Despite the fact that the shooting incident is politically fraught for the government and Dr Mallia, with allegations of a ministerial cover-up, those in attendance asked no questions about it. Instead, amid expressions of praise and support for the minister, most of the comments were about the prisons.
Dr Mallia said the new government had found the prisons to be in a dilapidated state. Some CCTV systems were not working, guard dogs had ended up as pets and canteen food was too expensive, while the Floriana lock-up was in a disastrous condition.
“We kicked off a rehabilitation process, including a music room and an arts room within the prison, and a playroom for young visitors.
“Female prisoners are also being taught to sew and part of the proceeds go to the victims of crime. People in prison lose liberty but not dignity,” he said.
The government also gave dignity to other workers, including Civil Protection officers, who previously had to make do with second hand clothes and old vehicles.
On the Rinella film facilities, he said the government was considering a public-private-partnership for their development.
He also spoke about the citizenship scheme, which, he said, was bringing the best talent to Malta following a rigorous process where every application was properly vetted.