Specialised search and rescue equipment has been launched by the organisation St. John Ambulance & Rescue after the allocation of funds to the voluntary organisation.

These funds were used to obtain a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), a multifunctional drone, and special scooters that can be used underwater.

The equipment was acquired through the allocation of voluntary organisation funds through the Voluntary Organizations Project Scheme (VOPS) and was administered by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector within the Ministry for Inclusion and Volunteering. These additions will complement other St. John Ambulance & Rescue vehicles – some of which were also funded by schemes from the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector in recent years.

Inclusion and Volunteering Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli explained that as part of their operation, St. John Ambulance & Rescue provides its rescue services to the Civil Protection Department. She also said that the organisation has vehicles, boats, and other equipment with which trained volunteers can assist in emergencies and in maintaining public security during national events on both land and sea.

Minister Farrugia Portelli said that this new equipment is of great importance in the performance of these parties’ duties in the indispensable work they do for society. During this visit, the Minister was accompanied by the Brigadier of the Armed Forces of Malta, Clinton J. Neill, the Deputy Commissioner of the St. John Rescue Corps, Christopher Borg Cardona, and the Chief Executive of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector, Mauro Pace Parascandalo.

Pace Parascandalo stated that in this case, through VOPS funding, they are continuing to improve the services on offer for organisations like the St. John Rescue Corps. On behalf of the Council, he thanked the organisation for all the work they do, including in emergencies and rescues where they work to avoid accidents and even tragedies.