Meeting on Equality and Justice

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December 18, 1998
Meeting on Equality and Justice
Workers’ Memorial Building, Valletta

In collaboration with the Malta John XXIII Peace Lab

This meeting was held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Pope John XXIII’s historical visit to the Regina Coeli prisons of Rome on December 26, 1958, a couple of weeks after his ascension to the papal thrown. The theme chosen for the meeting, together with co-organisers Peace Lab John XXIII, was: Are the Low and the High equal before the Law?

Those present were invited to discuss a working document distributed and explained to them all. The idea was to decide on a final version of the document, and issue a common position-statement. The idea was accepted and liked very much.

To help in the editing of the working document, Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl and the Peace Lab invited two lawyers, Dr Anna Mallia and Dr Tony Abela, and one journalist, Pamela Hansen, to address the meeting. The document had been sent to them before-hand. The discussion that ensued was a most lively one. The meeting was jointly directed by the Director of the Peace Lab, Fr Dionysus Mintoff OFM, and Dr Mark Montebello for Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl.

At the end of the meeting, after all the emandments to the working document were made, those present approved the final version and ordered its publication. The position-statement, eventually, was sent to the press, and thereby given considerable attention.

Meeting with the Hon. Dr Alfred Sant

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June 12, 1998
Meeting with the Hon. Dr Alfred Sant
Prime Minister of Malta and Minister of Home Affairs
Grands Hotel Les Lapins, Tax-Xbiex

This was the second public meeting with Dr Sant in his capacity as Prim Minister of Malta and the Minister responsible for Home Affairs. Politically, it was a very turbulent time for Dr Sant, since his government was on the brink of collapse due to serious internal factions. Notwithstanding, the meeting was well-attended and successful. The venue was changed due to the fact that the Eden Beach Hotel, where the first two public meetings with the Prim Ministers were held, was being demolished for renovation. Again, the Prim Minister was invited to address the meeting, which was broadcasted direct on the national station Radio Malta One.

Also present at the meeting were the Shadow-Minister for Home Affairs, Dr Tonio Borg; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Louis Cilia; the acting prison Director, Peter Cordina; the chairperson of the Prison Board, Dr Mario Felice; and other distinguished persons. A large number of relatives of prisoners attended, and also ex-prisoners.

On the part of Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl, the main speech was read by Rosette Spiteri, and the meeting was directed by Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl’s Secretary, George Busuttil.

After the meeting, a wine and pizza treat was offered to those present.

The press gave good and satisfactory coverage of the whole occasion.

Meeting on Victims and Crime

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May 8, 1998
Meeting on Victims and Crime
Preluna Hotel, Sliema

In collaboration with Guzè Ellul Mercer (G.E.M.) Foundation

This join effort between Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl and the Guzè Ellul Mercer Foundation was a huge success, particularly due to the large attendence of the general public. The meeting was built around the viewing of the film Weeds, which was shown to those present at the opening of the meeting. Afterwards, speeches were held, and a lively discussion followed. The general theme chosen for the meeting was: Society and Prisoners: Who is the victim of whom?

Those invited to talk at the meeting were Dr Mark Montebello on behalf of Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl; Roberta Calleja (the wife of the prisoner Meinrad Calleja); the Assistant Commissioner of Police, John Rizzo; and the father of a murdered person, Emmanuel Segona. The discussion was under the direction of Fr Pierre Grech Marguerat S.J.

Meeting with the Hon. Dr Alfred Sant

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March 7, 1997
Meeting with the Hon. Dr Alfred Sant
Prime Minister of Malta and Minister of Home Affairs
Eden Beach Hotel, St George’s

When this meeting was held, roughly a year after the first one, Dr Edward Fenech Adami and Dr Alfred Sant exchanged their official position. The former became Leader of the Opposition, and the latter Prim Minister. The meeting was held at the same venue, and organised upon the same lines, of the first meeting. With a difference, however. This time the new Prim Minister was invited to address the meeting. Dr Sant, in fact, read a policy speech on prison matters.

Again, as in the previous year, the Leader of the Opposition, H.G. the Archbishop, the acting prison Director (newly installed Peter Cordina), the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, the Shadow-Minister (Dr Tonio Borg), and members of the Prison Board were also present. A large number of relatives of families, and also ex-prisoners, participated in the meeting.

The high-light of this meeting was the Prim-Minister’s speech. The participants were all ears to discover the prison policies projected by the new man in office since the previous October, and none seemed to be disappointed.

Meeting with the Hon. Dr Edward Fenech Adami

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February 23, 1996
Meeting with the Hon. Dr Edward Fenech Adami
Prime Minister of Malta
Eden Beach Hotel, St George’s

You may realise that this public meeting was held just a few months after the establishment of Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl, a meeting that crowned the pioneering work done at the beginning of our experience. This meeting, in fact, marks the end of the “honey-moon period”, so to say, of the organisation’s experience. And to this effect it had all the right ingredients. A truly”magical moment”, we might say succinctly.

First of all, the place – the brilliantly-lit large hall of the Eden Beach Hotel atSt George’sBay- magnanimously offered to us by the owners, Ian and Kevin Decesare, was grandly laid out, complete with a silver-service touch. To this, the meeting had the added glamour of a “star-studded” participation: the Prim Minister, Dr Edward Fenech Adami, and his wife; the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Alfred Sant; H.G. the Archbishop,Mons. Joseph Mercieca; the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Tonio Borg, and his wife; the Shadow-Minister for Home Affairs, Dr Gavin Gulia, and his wife; the prison Director, Emmanuel Cassar; the whole compliment of the Prison Board, headed by Chairman Dr Mario Felice; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Louis Cilia; and many more. Finally, the enthusiastic attendance of a large number of prisoners’ relatives, ex-prisoners, volunteers of Daritama, a good number of journalists, and the general public.

The special occasion was made more so by the singular fact that the politicians were invited not to address speeches, but to listen to what the relatives of prisoners, and the ex-prisoners present, had to say. And say they did indeed.

Subsequently, the press gave excellent coverage. Most news editions – on television, radio and print – gave outstanding prominence to the occasion. The Sunday Times even had the meeting placed as its front-page header on Sunday 25.