Today we have the Department of Civil Protection in the best position it has ever been to carry out its work. When in a place like this you invest in the best environment, the best tools and the best facilities you are investing in the protection of society, but also in the workers themselves. Workers who work in a better environment, safer for them, means better results and above all peace of mind for them and their families.
This was the message of Prime Minister Robert Abela during the inauguration of the Maritime Section of the Department of Civil Protection in Kordin accompanied by the Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri.
Inauguration of a project with an investment of almost half a million euros, which will be contributing to a safer Malta as the Maritime Section of Civil Protection is now of the highest level, so much so that it has not only been strengthened to respond to a rescue on the sea, but you will also be able to offer support in other calls on land. With the building now offering the best environment for the workers to provide the best service, including a new telecommunications system, which allows the Department’s control room to inform all the workers who are in the building about any incident that requires their immediate assistance. With this it joins the other recent projects in Civil Protection, such as the new vehicles and marine works for firefighting with an investment that has reached more than 5 million euros, which are intended for the needs of our country. This now also includes three garages which, among others, will be able to accommodate the craft of the HAZMAT section which responds to emergencies linked to dangerous chemical material. The new building is also equipped with what are called dry rooms and wet rooms, which are not only essential for workers but also critical in rescue operations.
The Prime Minister referred to discussions he had during this inauguration with Civil Protection Officers, some of whom have been serving for years, and explained how they mean to you the difference that with these investments we are making on a daily basis theirs. He reiterated that the sense of pride also stands out when they wear the Maltese uniform abroad and colleagues approach them and even go over them as a point of reference.
This is as the Government is investing around €30 million a year in the security of our country, to continue the investment in this sector which in the words of the Prime Minister works with amazing conditions and facilities, it leads to families in the moment of need finding Disciplined Bodies ready to not only help them, but help them in the best possible way.
“And that’s what they’re doing. Today we are seeing the Bodies with a greater and visible presence in our communities – close to where we live, work and have fun. This is a department that will continue to be strengthened. It was actually my pleasure to meet the 64 recruits who are training to join the force. You see in their eyes the motivation to have a successful career and that they feel privileged to be given quality training and that their determination grows when they see the investment being made in Civil Protection. Some of them also followed in the footsteps of their parents and will tell you how around the table in their homes they talk about how in recent years this Department has changed so that today it is more ready to address the needs of modern Malta.”
Prime Minister Abela concluded by expressing a strong sense of satisfaction that as Prime Minister we have given a sectoral agreement to all the Disciplined Bodies, that is to the Officers of the Department of Civil Protection, of the Correctional Services Agency, the Police and Army. He explained that when we are talking about a sectoral agreement we are talking about wages, better conditions and new rights.
Minister Byron Camilleri claimed that apart from the capital investments that are being made continuously, the Government is also investing directly in the workers, both by continuing to improve the conditions and the rights of workers in national discipline bodies and even in their training. From the series of respective collective agreements, to strengthening the service pension, with peace of mind also in protection to the relatives of the same workers, today we have solid foundations on which we can continue to strengthen the security of our country .
” Today we inaugurated new facilities so that the workers of the maritime section of the Civil Protection, including the divers, can respond promptly to emergencies at sea around the coast of the Maltese islands. This building is complemented by other multi-million investments in craft and other marine works that are being inaugurated today, and others that have been prepared in the last months, to be used by the workers, as actually happens in situations of emergency both at sea and on land. As a Government we will continue to work for more security and peace of mind for the people.”
Present for the inauguration was the Director General of Civil Protection Peter Paul Coleiro, the Permanent Secretary Joyce Dimech , together with workers and Civil Protection Officers.
