Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1283588
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 AUGUST 2020 NEWS Use soap and water Palm to palm Fingers interlaced Back of hands Base of thumb Fingernails Rotationally rub wrists Rinse hands with water 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CLEAN HANDS, SAVE LIVES! HANDS PROPERLY HOW TO WASH YOUR C M Y CM MY CY CMY K COVID19 - Advert Eng & Mlt - 2020 (30th Aug) Final.pdf 1 28/08/2020 05:55:56 MATTHEW VELLA THE minister for the arts and local government, José Herrera, engaged a private security firm to provide 24-hour personal protection for him through the months of December and Jan- uary, due to the national crisis that followed the arrest of Tu- mas magnate Yorgen Fenech. Herrera issued two direct or- ders as then minister of the environment for "residential security services", to the firm Protection Services Malta, which ran from the 16 Decem- ber, to 15 January, for a total of €19,050. A spokesperson for the minis- ter confirmed with MaltaToday that there was no specific threat directed to the minister at the time, when Fenech's arrest on suspicion of having been the mastermind in the Caruana Galizia assassination provoked national protests in Valletta. "The services were not con- tracted due to any specific threat directed to the minister but as a precautionary meas- ure to ensure that during such a delicate period and particular circumstances, the security of Dr José Herrera in his official capacity as government minis- ter, is handled in a professional manner and proactively avert any unwarranted situations which could arise." The spokesperson said Her- rera's personal protection was provided at "all places 24 hours a day". She described it as an "unpleasant circumstance" that ended after the election of Robert Abela as prime minis- ter. According to the security firm's website, Protection Ser- vices Malta has occupied it- self with various cultural and arts-related events' security, as well as providing 24/7 security at Pjazza Teatru Rjal. One of the company's principals, Jason Pisani, is a former Armed Forc- es serviceman who in 2007 was acquitted of having assaulted a Liberian national in Sliema, who had once been detained inside the Safi barracks for asy- lum seekers. Minister received no threat but engaged security firm by direct order for 24- hour 'residential security' during December protests Herrera spent €19,000 for 24hr security during political crisis December 2019, national protests reaching fever pitch outside Parliament. Ministers and MPs look on. Herrera is first from right