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Karl Schembri
Armed Forces of Malta soldiers will be getting a “bonus” of less than Lm50 for the extra hours they worked before and during CHOGM week – a far cry from police officers who will be paid overtime for working the same hours or less.
Soldiers complained of the demoralising token that is being set aside for them by the finance ministry despite a good number of them spending up to two weeks in a live-in before and during the event, besides months of training and preparation ahead of CHOGM.
AFM members are not entitled to overtime and most of them were working on a 12-hour shift basis to provide the security necessary for the Commonwealth summit. A total of 1,500 soldiers were deployed around the islands to provide security for Queen Elizabeth, Tony Blair and more than 50 other heads of state.
Now with the allowance they are about to get, they feel dispirited and their work unappreciated.
Some high-ranking officers who spoke to MaltaToday said Brig. Carmel Vassallo did push hard with the government to give his soldiers well-deserved compensation, particularly in view of the police officers whose extra payment is believed to vary from Lm100 to Lm300, according to the hours worked. But the office of the prime minister drew the line on the AFM when it came to tightening the budget.
“It’s unfair because we gave as much as others, if not more,” one army officer said. “Just to mention airport security, AFM soldiers were the first posted there and the last to leave.”
Another officer said he felt “insulted” by the amount.
kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt
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