The Cops!

This morning after making a brief post on Linked-in at the Ministry of Education and Employment with regards to my movements today (no notices received from anyone requiring me to attend court to suggest any changes to my marital status, which remains the same as it's been for the past 12months...), I went to Costa Coffee for the usual cup of good will and then over to find a place to rest my feet that are still without shoes and suffering from minor cutts.

At aproximtely lunchtime I made my way back to the ministry of education and employment in Valletta and I sat on the fence outside the exit door where personel from the Mr Everest Bartolo's Office leave; it's located to the side of the building of the said ministry in Floriana. I was there with the knowledge of security staff who did not at any time demand I leave and knew what there for, same as yesterday.

While waiting, I made several attempts to communicate with staff coming and going from the building in hope to be granted 10 minutes of the minister's time (this afternoon is at all possible) before commencement of university tomorrow – my emails/communication has gone un-answered and therefore, the matter is now urgent.

I spoke to Claudine, Marita, Mary and Manny (Manny was just a friend of a friend of staff); and explained myself to all of them, as to what I was doing waiting patiently outside. I attempted to note down all communication in the spirit of resolving the matter via thrid parties but ran out of room on my note pad and therefore proceeded to continue note taking on my hand – the palm and back of it. My husband used to laugh at how I always find something to write on when there's no paper left; I wrote their names and time of conversation (including their registration plates – which was not really necessary but just to be thorough and incase I got their names wrong)...

Claudine who also works in the eduction sector said that Mr Bartolo is a reasonable man and given my urgency, he should be ok with 10 minutes on short notice but she did say she can not speak for him and that I would still have to confirm it with his office personnel; and just as she finished saying ''office personnel'', two of the girls from Mr Bartolo's Office came out of the building and (despite Claudette speaking on my behalf in Maltese directly to them making every effort to assist me...), they shook their heads, refused me any assistance and left in a hurry acting like I was chasing after them – I stayed put and let them go quietly. Then the security guard, in plain clothes with no ID approached me and told me to get off the fence (which I was sitting on becuase it was in the shade), so I did and continued to wait for the minister while standing – I remained in the same location. My feet (with no shoes on them) were hurting standing in the one spot and therefore, I took little steps up and down the footpath while waiting patiently to get an answer from someone belonging to Mr Bartolo's office. Another staff member approached me and confirmed that communication with regards to my circumstances is cirulating in the office and I should get an answer soon so I continued to wait but no one came out, instead I got strange looks as people were leaving. I waited till 2:30pm, until I was suddenly approached by police, (two cars, one after the other...) and questioned. I explained to both (a) the police in normal blue uniforms and (b) the police in black uniforms – special squad - all (4) attending to scene that I have no alternative but to try and get Mr Bartolo's attention in this way, with university starting tommorrow to try an overturn a failed application that I placed with the Malta University as a mature age applicant requiring no documents; and continued to explain that my email's sent to the same ministry have gone unanswered ...and just to make matter's worse, I have been banned by front line staff from going upstairs and making an appointment in person with the said minister (via his private secretary), and that I have been given no reason for such action. I added that I have no other way to communicate with them for a matter that is now deemed urgent ...nor do I own a mobile phone ...that I am more than happy to go through the correct channels if someone from this ministry would just answer my emails with regards to education. Time delays at hand are effectively going to force me to miss my lectures , which may create more excuises for my exclusion.

I was asked for ID which I produced immediately. The police officer saw no shoes on my feet and wanted to know where I was living, I told them the address on the ID card is not correct, as I have been separated from my husband for the past 12 months and sleeping outside – I added that our spearation has not been made legal - we are still legally married to each other with no amicable agreement reached to live apart – and that I have to seek the assistance of a legal representative for a maintenance order, which I intend to do right after I have resolved the education issue at hand with the Malta University... I also told them that I did not want to discuss my homelessness sitation any further, as I will not consent to intervention from 'Social Services' governed by the ministry of social solidarity, who have failed me too many times upon seeking their support 12 months ago – a social worker goverened by the said ministry told me it's all in my head upon explaining family violence to her and to add insult to injury, the Housing Authority rejected my application for housing three times (for a house that's still vacant to this day that is perfectly livable with no kitchen), despite producing the legal documentation they required at the time from my lawyer confirming intended separation is in process but not finalised – I find their support unreliable and would not bother with them again. I was told to accompany the police to the station becuase the inspector wants to speak with me regarding the emails I have claimed I sent to the said ministry with regards to my application with the Malta University that has gone unanswered; and I replied with, 'unless I am breaking the law by pursing education in this way and/or under arrest, I DO NOT WANT TO COME WITH YOU TO THE STATION' (and especially not after the last encounter with Gozo Police, who falsely arrested me once behind closed doors at the Victoria Police Station and then lied about it, under the instruction of detectives...). He then said that I am under arrest and was forced to accompany him to the station but they did not tell me why upon my request which was made three times prior to entering the car;;; nor did they use force by way of handcuffs or anything of that nature becuase by that time I complied and entered the car. I made no attempts to run away, as I was only pursuing education and felt I had done nothing wrong – education is my human right. Prior to entering the car, I reminded police that this goverment promises a response within 28days to all emails, which I have not received... and that it is an enabling goverment that is dedicated to erradicating all forms of corruption. NO MENTION OF MY HUSBAND WAS MADE AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING THE ORDEAL – NOT AT THE MINISTRY NOR AT THE POLICE STATION. After his most recent email, detailing corruption levels the collusion against me ultimately costing me the opportunity for higher education with the Malta University, I thoguht I'd leave my husband out of it;;; and relied on my 37 page proposal addressed to the prime minister himself, Mr Joseph Muscat, (which I pulled out of my bag) detailing several failed attempts to seek support from the above mentioned social services;;; which I offered a copy of it to the inspector and police officers at the station dealing with the incident this afternoon - in trynig to demonstrate my most recent communication with the OPM – who all said 'it was not necessary' and did not take any copies.

When we arrived at the police station at aproximately 2:40pm, I was asked for the police report that states I am homeless. I told them that I handed it to the Housing Authority – a report that I initially lodged with the St Julian's Police Station. I asked again for the reason that I was arrested and they said it was becuase when I was told that the inspector wanted to speak with me, I refused to accompany them to the station and so they were forced to arrest me to get there; I did not deny my statment and reiterated it was becuase I believed that if I am not under arrest for committing any crime (nor was I committing any) that it was my right to refuse such a demand;;; and they said that it may be the case in Australia but not in Malta, which I was not aware of and communicated that with them, as I am usually complaint with the law. I reminded them that at no point in time have committed crime during the 12 months I have been homeless (not prostitution, not drugs, not theft, not even abuse of alcohol...) but I have no shoes on my feet becuase I am simply experiencing proverity, which I believe is not illegal;;; I also went on to mention that just by looking at me, I am obviosly fed and clothed, which I am supported in by church services... Then I asked police 'who called them and why', and the police officer at the station informed me that it was personnel/upper management from the ministry of education complaining that I was acting suspecious around government cars;;; despite explaining myself to police upon their arrival, that that was not the case at all and the security personnel knew of my movements and intentions, as I had openly communicated this with other personnel from the said ministry who informed me that communication has circulated informing everyone/staff of my presence and the reason, including but no limited to security staff (who I heard them say in Maltese to each other, ''don't worry about her, she's waiting for the minister...''). I was not served with documents nor notified of any concerns at any given time involving me, my husband nor our marriage, which is still legally binding and intact.

When I was released I was told that there are no ongoing concerns what so ever and that I am free to go. I can not comment on my treatment as I am not familiar with Maltese Law, however, I can honestly say that with regards to my direct communication with the inspector, I felt he was honestly listening to my concerns. He told me that it's not illegal to just turn up quietly and attend lectures;;; but without the prior consent of the Malta University or the right to be a student (taking into consideratin the level of less favourable treatment I have been subjected to...), I will probably get thrown out again at the leisure of security staff who told me (17th September, 2015) that I was not going to be accepted as a student two hours after my interview for the BOA Degree in Communications and International Relations – and she was sure of herslef – while excluding me from campus under the instruction of Mr Camilleri, she said, which I did not believe due to his absence (a true story that's already been posted online).

I was told by police not to re-enter the ministry for education and employment – so now I have no other option but to pursue my appointment with the OPM, insisting to speak with our most respected PM, Mr Joseph Muscat, as he is the only other authorising person with regards to my said application for the BOA Degree in Communications and International Relations.

I suppose my greatest concern is that if I wait another year, I run the risk of new rules for mature aged entry taking affect in 2016; in particular the University of Malta with the support of the relevant ministry raising the bar so high that it becomes unreachable for mature age applicants who can not produce documentation that puts them on the same level as high school graduates applying for the same course; which I can not possibly produce at 41 years, effectively closing me out all together; which is exactly what happened with the Law Degree – there was another political issue at hand with regards the Law Degree that I applied for in 2014, which there is no need re-hash at this point in time.