“It has been my experience that folks who have no voices have very few virtues”: this was stated by my favourite US 16th President Abraham Lincoln.
Thus it is to the credit of Mr Kevin Mahoney that in his capacity as Director General, Courts of Justice Division he replied (TMID, 30 April) in some detail to my well-founded apprehensions about the subject at issue.
Mr Mahoney’s admirable stance should be emulated by all Director Generals of other State Divisions. In this respect he has my commendable admiration, particularly in the light of the forthcoming Freedom of Information Act.
The bottom line message of Mr Mahoney’s profound communication is however ominous: what if some incident were to occur immediately in one of the over-crowded sessions before the Criminal Family Court, in Hall 24, Second Floor, particularly on a Monday morning?
The reply would be an outright disaster because we now have it officially that the Court Administration is not prepared for such an eventuality – they are working on it, but four years, four months on, the administration is not yet there... and this when there are lives at stake in an environment which is already highly-charged!
This is not tantamount to alarming people; it just refers to a potential happening which has to be seen to immediately. That is why eliminating that famous bridge linking the Family Court to the Main Court Building was a mistake. And this when only a few metres away while this essential structure was being removed, another bridge was being constructed to serve the needs of a commercial outlet!
My communication (TMID, 14 April) focused on safety and not on other matters alluded to by Mr Mahoney, which in these circumstances are therefore out of context in this very grave situation.
Mr Mahoney failed to refer to the mediation rooms, for instance; to the common entrance for gender-related rest rooms (toilets in common parlance); to the lack of hose pipes on the fire-fighting equipment; to the lack of an emergency exit because the restricted space does not allow room for any (though there is an entrance which could be kept open all the time while the Courts are in Session); to the pigeon hole space in the extremely busy Family Court Registry; and other aspects that relate strictly to the safety concern.
Equipment on its own means nothing if it is not functionable at the split second it is needed.
Finally, I am glad to read that a serious study is being made relating to evacuation plans. I hope this study will not still be ongoing should a tragedy spark off!
Emmy Bezzina
Leader – Alpha Liberal Democratic Party
Valletta