Minister defends use of Ta` Kandja detention centre

It was true that conditions at Ta` Kandja detention centre were not what they should be, however its use was forced on the authorities by the sudden influx of illegal immigrants that brought about an emergency situation, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said in parliament yesterday.

Dr Borg was reacting to comments made by Labour MP George Vella about the plight of illegal immigrants in Malta.

The minister recalled that a new detention centre, boasting a number of facilities, had been opened at Hal-Far on March 4. The idea was to transfer the immigrants held at Ta` Kandja to Hal-Far and then refurbish Ta` Kandja just in case it would be required at some stage.

Representatives of non-governmental organisations and of the Red Cross and members of the Prison Visitors Board were given access to the new centre.

When 200 plus illegal immigrants landed in Gozo they suddenly added a considerable burden on the police who already had other immigrants to care for.

There were now 104 immigrants at Hal-Far`s Lyster Barracks, 65 at the new centre, 56 at the Safi barracks and 52 at Ta` Kandja.

He said it was one thing saying that there were shortcomings and another trying to depict the centre as some concentration camp.

The minister denied that immigrants had lost weight and that they were being served in-flight meals. Food was being sent to Ta` Kandja from the police headquarters` kitchen and then kept in polystyrene containers in order to keep it warm.

Red Cross representatives were informed they could take medical doctors to the detention centre if medical assistance was required. Furthermore, immigrants needing to be taken to hospital or to a health centre would be given transportation immediately.

At Ta` Kandja immigrants were allowed 45 minutes of recreation a day and the Police Commissioner had been instructed to increase such leisure time in order to bring it at par with Hal-Far where immigrants could roam about at leisure for a number of hours every day and could even play basketball.

The immigrants were provided with various items, including food, cigarettes and footwear, by both the government and by NGOs. They also had access to television.

Dr Borg said the police had just received a consignment of beds which would be used by immigrants.