While the wannabe bride is away, the adults will play…

What fun, out and about with my camera as I always was doing before Jan 2010, and this weekend able to move freely in Paceville without the the worry.

Lead Singer Beheaded getting right into it!

Nomad Son live at V-Gen

V-Gen
V-Gen!

I can see me being here in Malta for a long time yet. Last nights event, two local Metal bands, Nomad Son and Beheaded playing a V-Gen.

More photos from the night on my Facebook and of course on my Club Shots site http://www.clubshots.biz/.

Working for the government, past or present..

Just a short article as something came up in conversation earlier…

Many people don’t know, but in most countries when you work for the government/civil service you job can often entail more than you sign up for. In my experience working for Commonwealth countries, if you have a position that requires security clearance, gaining that clearance may mean you have to sign up for more than you really want. For example, as a customs officer, you’d expect would have to report any knowledge of drugs supply or usage, and cannot partake themselves. What most don’t know is that if you work for customs, but not as an agent/officer, you are covered by the same rules. What’s more even if you leave the employment of the service, you are still required by law, governance and contract to continue in your role of reporting incidences for the full duration of the clearance you obtained as part of the position (usually 5 years). This means that if you gained customs clearance in 2008, contracted to customs for 9 months then left the service, you would still be required to report any such drug use/dealing until 2013 (assuming the usual 5 year period for clearance.)

Now what’s even more convoluted, some countries like Australia and the UK require you to report any issues of a national nature regardless of whether it is dealt with by the department you work for or not. Another example, is if you are an Australian Customs officer, agent, employee or contractor if you were made aware of a scam marriage you’d be expected to report the incident in full to the Department of Immigration and Municipal Affairs (DIMA) just as you would be expected to report knowledge of Tax (GST (VAT for Europeans, Sales Tax for the Americans) or Income tax) Evasion to the Australian Tax Office (ATO.)

One has to wonder why would anyone want to take a position with such responsibility.. Well it’s probably to do with the job security, once in and cleared, unless you commit a crime yourself, you’ve pretty much got a job for life, and the jobs are not low paid generally.