From Mr E. Abela
I refer to the article entitled “More children in detention as open centres stretched to the limit” by Raphael Vassallo (TMIS, 6 August).
At present, contrary to what was stated in Mr Vassallo’s article, there are no children in detention centres. This was confirmed in a reply by Joe Azzopardi, the Communications Coordinator of the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, to questions put forward by Mr Vassallo to the same Ministry last week. It appears that Mr Vassallo failed to check his e-mail before writing his article. The reply was delivered to Mr Vassallo on Friday 4 August at 17.31. The following is the ad verbatim reply sent to Mr Vassallo.
“At the beginning of the week there were three babies at Lyster Closed Accommodation Centre and they were all accompanied by at least one of the parents as indicated hereunder:
“One boy of 15 days, born in Malta, accompanied by mother, date of arrival 16/7/06.
“One boy of 13 days, born in Malta, accompanied by both parents, date of arrival 25/06/06.
“One boy of one month, born on Patrol Boat, accompanied by mother, date of arrival 24/06/06.
“The above-mentioned babies, together with their parents, were accommodated in an area of Hermes Block reserved for families and single females.
“They were all released this week after the health screening tests were completed.
“Recently, a number of security windows were damaged by the families as well as by the single males allowing access of the single males to the families’ area.
“New security windows will be installed this Saturday (5 August) to separate families and single females from single males.
“Families with babies are provided with baby milk, nappies and baby clothing.
“To date there are 70 unaccompanied females at Lyster Closed Accommodation Centre
“All new arrivals are given a pamphlet outlining immigrants' rights and obligations in which reference is made to under age persons' rights. As soon as these minors identify themselves as such, they are referred to Appogg who open a case file for every person alleging to be a minor. Usually, minors undergo bone age testing and if the result confirms a minor's claim, he/she is released from the closed accommodation centre in the custody of Appogg under a Care Order.
“Vulnerable persons are released from closed accommodation centres once they are confirmed as such, i.e. vulnerable, and after undergoing a medical test certifying that they are free from certain infectious diseases.
“Media access to the detention centres was allowed last March according to the published Government Policy on Irregular Immigration. Similar visits may be organised in the future.”
Emanuel Abela
Director of Information