Cabinet Reportedly Approves Mtarfa Juvenile Prison, Ignoring Residents And Local Council’s Concerns
Malta’s government is steamrolling through plans to construct a juvenile detention centre in Mtarfa despite widespread objections from residents and district representatives alike.
Paul Gatt, who attended the meeting, revealed that the Ministry for Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity confirmed plans to develop the juvenile prison, which will be known as a therapeutic centre for young people with difficult behaviour, have already been approved by Prime Minister Robert Abela and his cabinet.
“The Ministry for Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity and the Mtarfa Local Council called a meeting to discuss the development of a prison for young people in Mtarfa. They tried to give the impression that it was a consultation meeting when Minister Michael Falzon confirmed that the Cabinet of Ministers had already made the decision!” Gatt said on social media.
According to Gatt, the centre will home 24 young people across four blocks of six apartments each. It will reportedly take up 15 acres of public and arable land.
It is expected to cost 17 million and will consist of 134 classes, a sports facility, and a rood garden.
“Minister Falzon did not respond to any questions, despite residents sending theme in days before.”
The local council informed Falzon that it will be opposing the project. The issue has already been taken up by MPs with PN MP Charles Azzopardi already weighing in on the issue.
“This is a project of destruction of untouched land for the residents in Mtarfa,” he said,m insisting that plans for the development have been around since before 2016.
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