Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia this evening announced an amnesty for prisoners to mark the election result, during an award giving ceremony following the Guinness World Record event of making the longest Christmas log, last December.

The announcement was welcomed with applause and shouts “Taghna Lkoll” reminiscent of the PL electoral slogan ‘Malta Taghna Lkoll’.

Dr Mallia had already confirmed the amnesty is to be given when the subject was brought up in Parliament by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi, at the start of this evening’s debate.

In comments to the press following the announcement, Dr Mallia said detail will be given in a ministerial statement in Parliament, on Wednesday.

The amnesty is expected to be of 100 days, but would not include prisoners serving time for paedophilia.

Addressing some 540 inmates and a good number of guests who supported the record breaking event, Dr Mallia said he has been regularly visiting prison for the past 40 years but never witnessed an activity of unity of the sort that took place yesterday which gave the country and the facility, a good name internationally.

“This is a message to society” he said, “as it must understand that if given the opportunity, prison inmates are capable of making us proud”. He added that he has started and will continue giving the facility attention noting that inmates must put their time to good use as this may be their biggest enemy if they find themselves idle.

While emphasising that he will be working hard for society to become more receptive to them, and for them to be prepared to face life when they leave the facility, he noted that a Commission has been appointed to study every aspect of prison in detail.

He would like prison to have the facilities that will change their life, especially assistance to learn and help them put their talents to the best use.

However, he called for their collaboration in doing so: “I need your help for society to understand that as you were assisted by sponsors for the record breaking event, society must give you the chance as reformed people ready to lead a different lifestyle, irrespective of the number of times you relapsed and were in prison”.

He also pointed out his intention to ensure that the structures set up by law, especially parole, will be effective. A system must be introduced by which inmates are given the help they need and assessed regularly. An assessment board will review these reports and process parole applications.

Dr Mallia stressed that he would like to help inmates in every aspect, including with their families and this can only happen if there are people who can help the inmates. He also wished that the prisoners do not forget his words and asked for their cooperation during the implementation of reforms.

The last time amnesty was awarded to prisoners was when Pope John Paul II visited Malta back in May, 2001.

Following his visit, representatives of Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl, an organisation working with prisoners and former prisoners, had presented a petition to then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to award a generous amnesty to all prisoners to mark Malta’s accession to the European Union, however the request was turned down.

The amnesty will be awarded on the grounds that it will be conditional and could be suspended.