Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia this afternoon justified recent transfers in the Police Force including a case where a major was transferred to Gozo and back to Malta in the same day, and another major who was detailed to four different places in the space of a week.
Asked whether this was the result of some misunderstanding or lack of coordination, the minister said that transfers were made according to the needs of the Force.
The minister also said in reply to other questions that he had not filed his declarations of assets as an MP on time because he was abroad, but all declarations had since been made.
WHITE PAPER
Dr Mallia was replying to questions after announcing at a press conference that the Cabinet had approved the publication of a White Paper on legislation to allow members of disciplined corps to enrol in any trade union of their choice.
He said they would not be able to take industrial action but would have the right to take a dispute to court.
Addressing a group of cadets at the new police academy in Ta Kandja he wished them well. He said that the previous administration had just laid the foundation stone of the new academy building, but nothing else was done.
This, he said, had to be the natural house of the police force for training and even for social functions.
He thanked Joe Cachia who has been tasked to review and oversee the courses at the academy.
MINISTER PRACTICES ARROGANCE LIKE A VIRTUE - PN SPOKESMAN
PN spokesman Jason Azzopardi said in a reaction it was evident from the minister’s replies that he practiced arrogance as if it was a virtue.
His attitude and mentality, believing he was above any form of scrutiny, were dangerous and went completely against the promise made by Joseph Muscat that this would be an accountable government.
It was not acceptable that in a modern and democratic society vindictive transfers were given as was being done in the police force.
There was no justified reason as to why a police officer was given two transfers in less than eight hours or that an officer was given four vindictive transfers within six days of the new government taking over.
The fact that the minister did not want to respond to such irresponsible behaviour was a sign that he knew he was wrong but wanted to persist in his error.