Security, traffic smooth so far

Security and traffic arrangements for the Commonwealth summit are so far proceeding without a glitch, reflecting intense preparations by the police and the army, Police Commissioner John Rizzo and Army Brigadier Carmel Vassallo said yesterday.

Mr Rizzo said when contacted the traffic flow was smooth yesterday even during peak hours. Although the different activities and Commonwealth fora had been going on for the past 15 days, Thursday and yesterday, when the summit opened, were the most difficult days for the security forces.

Thankfully, no incidents have been reported so far, Mr Rizzo said. The police had received a lot of positive comments for their work including from representatives of embassies.

The Police Commissioner said that all 1,700 members of the police force and 11 retired officers ñ who had taken up the offer to serve their country in uniform again were involved in the proceedings, working on a shift of eight hours on/eight hours off. That translated into an average 48 hours over seven days.

Besides policemen on the roads, there were also a great number of security personnel at the different venues 400, for example, were stationed at the Golden Sands Hotel and around it, and 260 were serving as protection officers to the heads of government.

Moreover, police stations and the different squads, including the Criminal Investigation Department, and the drug and economic crime units were still being manned, albeit by a skeleton staff.

Brig. Vassallo said that very tight security measures were being taken by the army on land and at sea.

Sixty soldiers were also serving as the drivers of the heads of state. These soldiers were accommodated at Hal Ferh in Ghajn Tuffieha.

The AFM was seeing to security at both the air side and land side of the airport, the latter incorporating both the inner cordon and the outside perimeter which extended to Delimara, Birzebbuga and all approaches to the airport.

The army's Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit has been carrying out constant searches for the past 12 days at all the venues being used for the CHOGM and the sites being used by the participants.

The head of the AFM said the army was using all its seacraft, mainly one offshore, two medium to offshore and three inshore patrol boats, two rescue launches and a number of rigid hull inflatable boats to ensure security.

It carried the Queen from the Cottonera Marina to the Illustrious on Thursday.

AFM helicopters were conducting continuous aerial duties and the "C" Special Duties Company was carrying out sniping duties at the airport and anywhere else the police required assistance.

A number of soldiers were involved in ceremonial duties such as guards of honour and wreath laying ceremonies.

Basically, Brig. Vassallo said, all the 1,590 members of the AFM as well as the 29 members of the volunteer reserve force, were giving their all to successfully cover these extra duties as well as the regular AFM work which included the overseeing of the illegal immigrants on the island. A total of 150 officers were required for this duty alone.

Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier said his council had been involved in the logistics and the preparations for both the Queen's state visit and the summit. The public in general, both residents and the business community, were very receptive and understood the importance of both events, he said.

Over the past few weeks the council had removed litterbins and skips from around the city and increased its rubbish collection efforts.

He said that as a resident he felt that Valletta had done very well. There was a good police presence and the place was extremely safe and the city looked beautiful, as it deserved.

There was an aura of splendour, especially in the areas where the activities were concentrated.

Dr Borg Olivier complimented all the stakeholders involved in the handling of the organisation for doing their job so well, especially the Prime Minister's office, the CHOGM task force and the police.

The only problem yesterday seemed to be a public transport delay when City Gate was closed for about 20 minutes.

Public Transport Association president Victor Spiteri said the association had been bombarded by complaints from commuters because many buses were late, which made people late for work.

He said that for security reasons, buses had not been allowed to enter or leave City Gate for about 20 minutes at about 8.30 a.m.

Although one could understand that this was necessary in the circumstances, the people could have been made aware that this was going to happen so that they would have been prepared, he said.