Visit to Ta Kandja. Tuesday 20 th March 2012.

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1 Visit to Ta Kandja Tuesday 20 th March On Monday 19 th March I received an E Mail suggesting that Ex RAF Siggiewi in Malta was to be Bulldozed to make way for a new Police Academy. I was as it happened staying in Valletta for 10 days and as I had visited the Old Site in 2010 Officially. I made my way to Fort St Elmo, the present Malta Police academy and met with Sgt Major of Police Paul Zahra. Paul was very obliging and got in touch with Ta Kandja and made arrangements for me to visit again the same afternoon. I arrived shortly after 1pm and was met by Police Sgt Oliver Cassar. I explained what my mission was to find out what the truth was re the Bulldozing. Oliver gave me a wealth of information and a conducted tour of the former RAF Site. The site is not to be raised to the ground. However the Married Quarters and the MT yard area have been cleared to make way for a new Building for the Academy and the foundation stone has been laid already see picture:- Translation:- Laying of the First stone Of the Police academy By Hon Lawrence Gonzi Prime Minister In the presence of Hon Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici Minister of Justice and Internal affairs 11th July 2011 Work in Progress and the foundations of the Old Married Quarters:-

2 In our conversation Oliver told me, after the British handed over RAF Siggiewi to the Maltese authorities, the compound was used by the Ministry for youths and tourism only as a store and the area in use was restricted to the Administration Block. Then in 1985 the compound was handed over to the Malta Police Force and started being developing into a training centre for Police officers in particular for special response teams. During that time a new Gym also started to be constructed but the work stopped once a new government was elected in (Finally Opened 17 th April 2002) See Pictures:- Since 1987 the compound started being used by the Special Assignments Group (Malta Police Force) which also incorporated the Rescue and Scuba Units. After some years the Scuba Unit transferred its HQ at Menqa in Marsa. Then in 1997 both the rescue and the Scuba units had been delegated to the Civil Protection Dept. From the late 1990s till about 2005 the compound had a number of illegal immigrants in lock ups at the complex. The number of illegal immigrants reached its maximum between 2000 and 2005 when several army tents had to be set up to cater for the exigency. At that time a new lock up started to be constricted with the help of EU funds to accommodate a number of illegal immigrants (about 500) within a national contingency plan. Nowadays the Malta Police Force is planning to make new premises for the Police academy presently being at Fort St Elmo (since 1988). This because the offices and rooms used as a Police academy at the fort will be handed over to Heritage Malta. The new building at Ta Kandja within the limits of Siggiewi will include a multifunctional auditorium, a two storey block for dormitories with 29 rooms, an administration block for offices, classrooms and a library. The underground halls at RAF Siggiewi had never been utilized since the British period. This although at some periods there seems there were proposals that these halls could have been used for example as indoor ranges. Oliver visited the site: And ( Quote) I must say that it is quite interesting. I also noted that someone sent a letter to the Times of Malta (dated. 6 th March 2012) asking about the new Police Academy. LINK:

3 From the Aerial Picture attached, here are some observations which may be of interest in connection with the picture of the RAF Siggiewi. Note: 1A and 1B are what used to be the Guardroom. The room marked as 1B was probably removed in the 1980s and now only the front part of this room (marked as 1A) still stands. 2 Was originally used as a Barrack Block and till now the same block is still used by the Malta Police (Special Assignments Group) for a similar purpose as the personnel s quarters. With the addition of a small add on building for toilets and showers done in the late 1980s. See pictures of RAF personnel Graffiti and a resent Police DS & memorial on accommodation Block wall:- 4 The area of the Gym inaugurated in April 2002 by Hon. Tonio Borg then being the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs

4 5 According to our information, during the British period this area that included also a tennis court was used as a mess and a recreational centre. In fact it continued to be used as such till approximately 1997 but from 1997 it started to be used as a lock up area for illegal immigrants and continued to be used as such till about The area marked as 5B used to be also a kitchen and Quarter Master s office / stores till the area is not now used. 6 The SAG Shooting Range 7 Small square building at the Junction of the firing range and ditch entrance have (1911) graffiti over the window of the and St Nicholas Patron Saint of Siggiewi over a door

5 In March 2010 I was privileged to be given access to the underground Traffic, Radio, and Maintenance halls as well as the old Air Con unit. Let the memories flood back!

6 8 The Administration offices. According to our information, during the British period this area had been used for the same purpose. This building seems to be the oldest in the compound. On the back of the Administration Block, there is what used to be an emergency exit from the underground offices, control room and Air Con unit. Nowadays this area incorporates a number of stores. 9 The Chapel is used every Sunday morning, Fr Raymond Bonnici OFM celebrates mass. Fr Bonnici is the Police Chaplin and can be contacted at the Police GHQ Floriana. A Visit was made to the old Chapel and the following pictures show the inside today and in RAF Days :-

7 10 Apparently this area used to be the house of the British officer in charge. This area used to be used for training purposes, but since 1997 it became the Civil Protection Dept. HQ and now it have a separate entry gate. 11 This area used to be the married quarters for British officers. This area also used to be used for training purposes but quite recently it was demolished and the new Police Academy is being constructed on that location. 12 Apparently this area used to be used as a Sergeants Mess and for some form of social events for the British officer. This area used to be used as the quarters for the Police Rescue and Scuba Units within the SAG. Nowadays (since 1997) these duties had been delegated to the Civil Protection Dept. 13 The MT Garage. Since only few years ago we had a full time mechanic (police officer) within the compound but now we are making use of the MT Garage at Floriana (near the Police GHQ) and this area marked as 13 is only being used as a Garage for Police vehicles and some small related mechanical works. 14 In this area a new lock up had been constructed with EU funds to accommodate a number of illegal immigrants (about 500) within a national contingency plan. The old Aerial Farm to the North West is being used for storage of Vehicles and light aircraft from scenes of crime and road accidents, awaiting court procedures. The area is also used for training.

8 Courses for Police personnel are regularly performed within the complex and for example if a visitor go to the site Google Earth, the visitor can note strange markings within the complex in particular at the football ground. Those markings (with tyres) were placed due to resent courses in Driving skills and VIP protection. These courses had been performer with Instructors from the Italian Military Mission in Malta. Mounted and the K9 (Dog) sections use the premises for their training. Presently the Mounted Section have their stables in Marsa (near the Marsa Race Course) and the Dog Section are at Fort Mosta but it is still a question if once the new Police Academy will be inaugurated, if these sections will be (by time) also transferred at Ta Kandia Complex. These sections are within the responsibility of the Special Assignments Group SAG and our Superintendent and SAG Inspectors are also in charge of both the Mounted and the K9 (Dog) sections. This narrative has been compiled with the assistance of Police Sergeant Oliver Cassar and the generous hospitality of the Malta Polizija. With recognition of work already completed by the associated web site contributors. Ian Armstrong March ( SAC R.I. Armstrong GWM ( 9 Yr Regular) June 16 th th February 1967 Prior to Demob and complete clearance from RAF Safi)