New broom

The dust was truly shaken up at the Corradino prison in Malta on Sunday evening when the new Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia paid it a surprise visit on Sunday evening at 19.30. The prison administration was knocked for six when the minister found that not only was the punch clock not always used but also that four guards who were supposed to be at work were actually at home, even though their shift was meant to end at 21.00 hrs.

He was told that this kind of behaviour had been going on for a long time, and had his visit occurred on a weekday, he would have found as many as seven or eight officers missing. He was also told that some officers left for home at 13.00 instead of 21.00 hrs.

The prison director Abraham Zammit, playing a Manuel from Fawlty Towers, claimed, “I know nothing” when questioned on this serious abuse by Minister Mallia. It is understood that he has tendered his resignation.

I doubt that people will be tripping over each other to take over as prison director. It is by far one of the toughest jobs around and the Minister will have his work cut out to pick the right person for the job.

He called on the permanent secretary to launch an immediate investigation and the attendance book was taken away. The latter will help the Board, which will be set up to examine why and how the abuse was allowed and to establish responsibility. “All those who had abused would have to pay for their actions,” claimed the ministry.

I am not sure whether the same Board, or another to be set up, will be asked to issue recommendations for a reorganisation of practices at the prisons.

Such issues, as to why prisoners' food is supplied by an outside contractor instead of being prepared in the prisons, with the related increased costs and security risks; why items in the tuck shop cost more than outside the prison; the working conditions and practices of prison guards and the operation of the Forensic Ward as a satellite of the prisons at Mt Carmel Hospital, are to be looked into.