Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said today that “no disrespect was intended” when a UHM official was asked to give up his phone ahead of a meeting with him last month.

The scheduled meeting between Mr Abela and Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin general secretary Josef Vella on February 25 was cancelled when Mr Vella refused to obey the order not to take his mobile phone with him to the meeting.

The UĦM official said he was “humiliated” by the incident, which he cited as further evidence of “government’s lack of trust in the UHM.”

In a letter to MCESD chairman John Bencini, which was read out to social partners during a meeting earlier today, the minister said the request was in line with the ministry’s security policy.

He admitted, however, that more discretion should have been applied in cases such as the one in question.

The minister stressed that the incident did not imply disrespect to any person or organisation, and added that when the UĦM had requested a meeting, this meeting was granted within one day.

Mr Bencini told the MCESD that in light of the minister’s response, he hoped the matter could be put to rest.