Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/459448
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2015 4 News TIM DIACONO THE maximum detention period for asylum seekers is expected to be re- duced from a mandatory 12 months to nine months, according to plans by the government to amend the Im- migration Act. The amendments are in response to demands by the Council of Eu- rope's committee of ministers, call- ing upon Malta to adhere to rulings by the European Court of Human Rights after three migrants success- fully challenged their prolonged de- tention. In all three cases, the ECHR de- clared that the Maltese legal system did not allow them to challenge their detention in an effective and speedy manner. The reduction of the detention pe- riod is also in line with the recast EU directive on reception conditions for migrants, which advocates a shorter detention period. In 2013, the Court declared that one of the three migrants, Suso Mu- sa, had been detained arbitrarily af- ter it took over six months to deter- mine his asylum application, as well as raising concerns about the condi- tions of the detention centre. Following Musa's case, the ECHR slapped the Maltese government with a €27,000 fine in damages and costs to Musa, and ordered it to amend the law to allow asylum seek- ers to challenge their detention with- in a time-frame deemed fair by the Geneva Conventions. It also advised Malta to limit its detention periods and to improve its detention condi- tions. During a meeting last June with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the government revealed that it had drawn up a bill to amend the Immigration Act and that it would adopt it by the end of 2014. However, it has not yet been presented in Parliament. The bill will allow detainees whose deportation cannot be ensured within a reasonable time to apply to the Immigration Appeals Board to be granted release. Only those im- migrants who are proven to have purposely destroyed their travel documents or have made use of false documents will be denied this right of release. Also, the Principal Immigration Officer will only be able to order the detention of an asylum seeker if the order is written in a language that the immigrant is expected to under- stand and if it contains the reasons for detention. The detainee must also be advised as to how he can challenge this de- tention order. Therefore, the gov- ernment plans to offer free legal aid to immigrants as from July. When a detainee challenges his detention, the Immigration Appeals Board must review his application within a week, or two weeks in the case of justified reasons such as an influx of applications. If the appli- cant remains in detention, then the board must review his application every two months. If the board de- cides that the immigrant's detention is indeed unlawful, then the immi- grant will be released from detention immediately. Moreover, detention centres will now include open-air spaces, sepa- rate accommodation facilities for male and female detainees, facilities for detainee families, and spaces for recreational and social activities, the government told the Committee of Ministers. GOVERNMENT OF MALTA CALL FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Design, Construction and Operation of a Fish Processing Plant at the Fish Market in Marsa The Privatisation Unit ('PU'), acting on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, is issuing a public Request for Proposals (RFP) in connection with the concession for the Design, Construction and Operation of a Fish Processing Plant at the Fish Market buildings in Marsa. The PU is inviting submissions for the RFP from reputable persons and/or entities with the necessary experience and resources to undertake such task. In the first instance, interested parties are invited to communicate with the PU, at the email address shown below, expressing their interest to undertake the task. Once this initial communication takes place, the PU will forward a process letter inviting interested parties to collect the RFP document. The process letter will explain the procedure to be followed for the collection and submission of the RFP document. Opening date for collection of RFP: 26 th January 2015 (12.00hours CET). Closing date for collecting the RFP: 16 th February 2015 (12.00hours CET). Closing date for the submission of the RFP: 23 rd February 2015 (12.00hours CET). The Chairman Privatisation Unit Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business 4, Clock Tower, Level 1 Tigne Point Sliema TP01 Tel: (+356) 22209573 Email: privatisation.meib@gov.mt Website: privatisation.gov.mt Detention for asylum seekers could be reduced to nine months The ECHR advised Malta to limit its detention periods