AD proposes relocation of Gozo Law Courts

AD backs relocation of Gozo law courts but asks for different site

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said that although the transfer of the law courts from the Cittadella was warranted, the proposed relocation to a school complex was a deplorable idea.

"The site being put forward by the government is grossly misguided on two counts: firstly it does nothing in terms of diminishing the chronic traffic and pollution problem in Victoria and secondly, it gravely endangers the welfare of schoolchildren by bringing them into close daily contact with people attending court, some of whom may be a completely undesirable," he said.

Dr Vassallo continued: "It would further compound the menace posed by those who already routinely loiter outside the school, an unchecked vice afflicting every educational institution in the nation.

"As matters stand, it is already hard enough to keep the vicinity of schools free from drug peddlers and other criminals, without the government providing them with an excellent excuse for their presence," he said.

He also pointed out that in the normal course of business, children are not allowed into court buildings at all, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Dr Vassallo urged the Gozo Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry to seriously reconsider their plans and called on the Commissioner for Children to pursue the issue and make her recommendations.

AD secretary-general and Gozo spokesman Victor Galea said that given that the present premises in the Cittadella are inadequate to accommodate the volume of legal work, coupled with the consequent concentration of traffic in the heart of Victoria, Alternattiva Demokratika proposed instead that the law courts be moved to the outskirts of the city to a vacant complex formerly rented to Malta Dairy Products.

"Not only does it afford ample office space but AD also proposes this new complex includes other services such as a public registry, a regional police headquarters with lock-up cells, the fire brigade and rescue centre, a regional Attorney General office, a regional office for local government and any other department that falls under the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry," he said.

"Gozitans will be better serviced through these proposals and the much talked-about traffic congestion in Victoria would ease considerably," said Mr Galea.

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• AD
• MLP
• PN
• Cittadella
• Alternattiva
• Gozo
• Malta
• Victoria
• Environment
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• Justice
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