Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/440087
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2014 6 15 Years Nicholas Azzopardi A man who police claimed escaped a police escort and fell down the bastions beneath the Floriana po- lice HQ, said on his deathbed he was beaten up by his interrogating police officers and thrown off the bastions. Nicholas Azzopardi, from Flo- riana, was 38 years old when he died. A day later, on 9 April, po- lice issued a statement stating a man had escaped from police HQ, jumped over a wall overlooking the trade school behind the HQ, and was taken to hospital where he was in danger of dying. When 13 days later, Azzopardi came to his senses and regained his abilit y to talk, he recounted his tragic ordeal. Three hours before his death, Magistrate Tonio Vella was questioning him over allegations that he had been beaten up while in police custody, then thrown off the bastions beneath the police depot. He even said he was in a position to recog- nise the officers, but he recalled the two police officers having no visible police numbers on their epaulets. A magisterial inquiry into his death would lead to no charges being issued against the police of- ficers entrusted with his custody, but Azzopardi 's death highlight- ed the seriouness of the incident in which police were unable to guarantee his safet y. 27 April, 2008 2008 The Embassy of Libya would like to announce that it is temporarily performing its duties from the Consular Section of the same Embassy which is in Abate Rigord Street, Ta' Xbiex. The telephone numbers are 2131 5715 and 21 313072. The fax number is 2148 8588. Anybody who wishes to contact the Embassy of Libya may do so from Monday to Friday from 08.00 till 14.30hrs. Armier Squatters THE Armier squatters publish a memorable photo taken in Castille to mark the signing of their secret pre-electoral pact with Prime Min- ister Lawrence Gonzi, not to take action over pre-1992, illegally-built beachrooms in Armier. The event was never publicised by the department of information, contrary to normal practice. The pact was signed on 18 February, just five days after the Prime Minister promised to redress the country's environmental deficit by taking over responsibility for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. "We now have it in writing from the Prime Minister himself who will be in charge of MEPA that this agreement will be implemented and that no action will be taken against boathouses built before 1992," the president of the Armier boathouse owners' association, Tarcisio Barbara, boasted on the association newsletter. "To avoid controversy on the eve of the election we did not organise any meeting and we kept everyone informed through the newsletter and other correspond- ence." "The environmental organisations are already against the agreement signed with the government. This was already evident in a section of the press. Let's not be foolish." 18 May, 2008 Mater Dei direct contracts PRIME Minister Lawrence Gonzi is revealed to have issued a direct ten- der for a year of some €2 million to Group 4 Securitas (G4S) for internal security arrangements inside Mater Dei Hospital, just two and a half months before the 8 March general election. The government claims the contract is "a continuation of the service" that G4S had previously provided Skanska, the Swedish firm entrusted with the construction of Mater Dei, until the 1 January, 2008 handover to the government. One contradiction to emerge is that the government is claiming the contract was signed in January 2008, while G4S managing direc- tor Kenneth Demartino said he signed the contract after he became managing director, that is after 24 February. The government said the arrange- ment was until a new tender is is- sued after the hospital settled down following migration from St Luke's Hospital, by request of the Founda- tion for Medical Services. "This was authorised by the director of contracts in the best interest of the patients and staff to minimise disruption and risk by providing continuity through the people who knew the building and its security risks best at that point in time." 3 August, 2008 'You get a €4 weekly increase THEY get €290!' MALTATODAY had first report- ed former Prime Minister Law- rence Gonzi 's decision to give his ministers a wage rise three years before the issue was raised by the then opposition leader, Joseph Muscat. "Lawrence Gonzi has given his ministers, parliamentary secre- taries and himself a lavish pay rise of over 40% in a decision taken after March 's election, MaltaToday has learnt. "The decision, which remained unannounced by the govern- ment, will cost the country an extra €224,490 a year as all ministers and parliamentary secretaries will be each getting a yearly increase of €14,966," MaltaToday had reported on 30 November, 2008. In a decision which haunted Gonzi to his very last day in office, the former Prime Min- ister had increased his minis- ters' salaries on 5 May, 2008 by two measures: increasing their salaries to €38,000 and also awarding them the previ- ously forfeited parliamentary honorarium, however at 70% of the civil service's Scale 1 salary – while MPs, still paid at the customary 50% of Scale 1, were apparently in the dark about the higher honorarium. The newspaper's November report added: "The increase is expected to stir controversy at a time when the government is imposing tough measures on the people in the face of economic austerit y. The increase contrasts with the meagre €4.08 cost of living adjustment given in the last budget to all the other ordinary citizens from next January." 30 November, 2008