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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella MANAGING EDITOR Saviour Balzan Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 NOVEMBER 2020 It's a prison, not a personal fiefdom Editorial ON Thursday, Malta awoke to the news of yet an- other mysterious, unexplained death at the Corra- dino Correctional Facility: this time, a 25-year-old inmate, of Pakistani nationality, who was discovered lifeless in his prison cell. This is the eleventh fatality to have occurred at Malta's only prison over the past two years. The cause of death has yet to be determined; and a magisterial inquiry is under way. But while it would be imprudent to jump to any conclusions, at this stage: it is clearly unacceptable that both the prison authorities, and the Home Affairs Ministry, have so far refused to divulge any details to the press – or to the victim's family, or even to the lawyer representing his case. Even such simple requests as the victim's iden- tity, the crime for which he had been imprisoned, or the specific conditions under which he was be- ing detained – for instance, whether he was alone in his cell at the time of death – have so far been withheld from the press. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has consistently avoided answering me- dia questions, on the pretext that 'a magisterial inquiry is ongoing'. This would be unacceptable, even if this were a unique, one-off occurrence. It goes without saying that the State has to take full responsibility for the lives with which it is entrusted by the criminal jus- tice system; and the unexpected death of a young, healthy inmate who had no known pre-existing conditions – and had (according to his family) never exhibited any suicidal tendencies, never took drugs, and never reported any health complaints – can only raise serious questions of the current state of Malta's prison regime. However, the fact that over 10 prisoners have been found dead in their cell over the past two years – and that the results of the respective in- quiries were never made public (indeed it is un- clear whether they have even been concluded) – only reinforces the suspicion that this latest in- quiry is (yet again) being used by government as an excuse to shirk responsibility. The incident also raises questions about the cur- rent administration of CCF. Director of Prisons, Lt Col. Alexander Dalli, has recently been accused of intimidating a lawyer representing Yorgen Fenech: the prime suspect in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial. In a heated exchange that was captured on CCTV, Dalli reportedly told the defence team: "I don't give a f*** about the court. I own this place, I take decisions around here, and everyone has to obey me." Though not immediately related to this, or any of the previous prison fatalities – most of which took place on Dalli's watch – the attitude exhibited by the prison director clearly amounts to an abuse of the power he wields, in that position. The Corradino Correctional Facility is a prison; not a personal fiefdom. But if Lt Col. Dalli insists (unlawfully) on assuming 'ownership' of the entire institution… then he also has to assume direct responsibility for whatever happens in that facility. Nor is the recent spate of unexplained deaths the only question that he now has to answer for. Lt Col. Dalli has also boasted that he had "eradicated drugs from prison"; but this claim is at best debat- able. In October 2019, then Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia revealed in parliament that there were at least 14 drug finds in Malta's prison during the first eight months of that year. Even if the boast could be substantiated, how- ever: one must also question whether there is any link between this crackdown on illicit substances, and a sudden spike in prison fatalities (in some cas- es involving suicide; though even this detail is still awaiting official confirmation). The aim of 'eradicating drugs from prison' is, in itself, a commendable objective for any correction- al facility. And one can also understand the insist- ence on a military style of discipline. But it remains a fact that Malta's criminal justice system also incarcerates people who suffer from drug addiction: and sometimes, specifically be- cause of their drug habits. CCF cannot, therefore, live up to its aim of reforming drug addicts, with- out also providing the therapeutic care and coun- selling offered by a real rehabilitation facility. Above all, however, the prison management – and the government to which it is answerable – cannot so lightly brush aside the demand for clarity and transparency in what is, at the end of the day, a public institution wielding tremendous power over the life and death of so many people. This newspaper therefore understands the sen- timent of the Chamber of Advocates: which has called for Lt Col. Dalli's immediate suspension, pending an investigation into what appears to be an abusive – and deadly – prison regime. But we demand answers from the home affairs minister himself, Byron Camilleri, whose demure demean- our on such matters of domestic security seems so unbecoming of a government minister. 22 November, 2010 Bonello's simple medication for economy: cut public spending MICHAEL C. Bonello has once again warned against political expedience overriding Mal- ta's economic interests in a hard-hitting address to the Institute of Financial Services, in what has become a keynote speech for his insightful and sober appraisal of the Maltese economy. Bonello reiterated common themes about Malta's structural weaknesses, calling for a reform in university stipends, health spend- ing, welfare payments, the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA), and for a cut in public spending, "What I am advocating is not austerity but enlightened self-interest. It is a com- mon-sense appeal for a closer alignment of our priorities with the economy's strategic objectives and for a more efficient allocation of resources," Bonello said. The governor warned that Malta's short recession had seen the economy rebound from a contraction to 2.1% of GDP in 2009, to a growth to 4%. But he warned against "man- ifestations of the 'Malta-is-different' syn- drome" and "suggestions that belt-tightening and structural reforms are for others, but not for us." "For a country that, with one exception, has not had a current account surplus or a bal- anced budget for at least 15 years, this attitude betrays a poor understanding of the growth dynamics in a small, open economy and of cur- rent world realities," Bonello charged. Bonello said that Maltese wages were still rising faster that its productivity, partly leading to weak profitability, which in turn reduced the incentive to invest despite low interest rates. He also called for a reform of the COLA, which adjusts wages to inflation levels. "[It] represents a permanent drag on Malta's com- petitive position, he charged, while lamenting the low level of labour participation. "In 2009 the employment rate stood at 55%, compared with a euro area average of nearly 65%. The activity rate among women and older workers in particular is especially low." ... Quote of the Week "The Commission expects full compliance with the party's code of ethics and will escalate the recommended sanctions in view of the gravity and circumstances of the case." PN ethics commission chairman Prof. Joseph Pirotta on the Jason Azzopardi Tel Aviv Hilton freebie MaltaToday 10 years ago