68 members of the Civil Protection Department were recognized for 25 or 30 years of service to the Maltese and Gozitan people during a ceremony in which they were awarded medals for long and efficient service.
The ceremony was presided over by the Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, Byron Camilleri, who in his speech stated that he strongly believes in occasions such as these because each and every one of those being recognized has given, or continues to give, their life in service to others.
“These are strong and noble vocations that continuously make our society better. That is why we must celebrate them. You are people who did not give your lives for just one day or for a short period of time, but for 25 or 30 years you reported to work every day without knowing what might arise, without knowing what circumstances would call upon you, yet always ready to rescue and protect. From major fires to frequent summer fires, to very serious accidents that leave victims and have an impact on you when you go on site to assist, to situations that may seem less tragic, but which still involve certain risks. However, I will choose just one example: the pandemic. Today we may forget it, especially since our country emerged from it with great strength. What I can say is that during that uncertainty, I turned to this department for assistance on various fronts, and there was never any about your contribution contrary, there was a clear commitment from everyone to do their part wherever needed in order to save as many lives as possible,” stated Minister Camilleri.
In this context, the Minister also reiterated that ceremonies alone are not enough, and that this is why the Government has consistently invested in these officers:
- The right to join a union.
- Recognition for 25 years of service.
- The first sectoral agreement.
- Better protective clothing.
- More modern vehicles and increased technology.
- Improved working environments at stations.
- Strong incentives for those who serve more than 25 years.
- Investment in human resources, resulting in the largest force ever in the department’s history.
“We have done, we are doing, and we will continue to implement strong initiatives and agreements because we believe in you, we appreciate your work, and you deserve the very best,” concluded Minister Byron Camilleri.
Director General of the Civil Protection Department, Peter Paul Coleiro, said that “every Director who led this Department, and every officer who served under the Civil Protection flag, added a stone to this structure. Some built capacity, others professionalism, and others public trust. There were also those who simply showed up, day after day, night after night, and did the job quietly when the situation was tough. Therefore, when we say twenty-five years of the Civil Protection Department, we are not celebrating a bureaucratic anniversary. We are honoring twenty-five years of a department made up of people who run towards what everyone else runs away from.”
On Wednesday, a parade was also held in St George’s Square celebrating 25 years of service to the Maltese and Gozitan people by the Civil Protection Department.
Source: MHSE
Photos (DOI/MHSE)
