year the members will be able to monitor the Joint Return Operations organised by Frontex. 2.1 Contacts with the Ministry Telephonic and emailing contact was kept during the year under review, with the Home Affairs Ministry's Permanent Secretary and the Director General (Operations). The Board also met various Ministry officials as the need arose to discuss salient problems being faced by detainees at the time and work out solutions to issues raised. 2.2 Meetings with the Head of Detention Service and other Senior Officers The Board was regularly in contact with Mr Mario Schembri, Head of Detention Service and with the deputy heads, Col Martin Bondin at Safi Detention Centre and with Col Harold Stivala at Hal Far detention Centre. Following the resignation of these two deputy heads, the Board continued meeting with Col Karl Albert Sammut, and Col Ruggier the two deputy heads who replaced them. The Board Members discussed certain issues with the different officers in charge of the various units within the two Detention Centres when visits were held at the respective centres. However meetings were held with the Administration whenever important issues arose. 2.3 Other Meetings 2.3.1 Every time the Board members visited the detention centres they also met informally with the contracted medical doctors and nurses, working at Hal Safi and Hal Far, to clarify matters regarding health issues of detainees. 2.3.2 On the 18th August the Board held a meeting with UNHCR representative in Malta, Mr J Hoisaeter, to discuss the age assessment of young people in detention. 2.3.3 On the 15 May, the Board members met Dr Muiznieks the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe. 2.3.4 On the 2oth May the Board met Dr Anton Grech to discuss the state of undocumented migrants undergoing mental health treatment at Mount Carmel 2.3.5 On the 2oth June the Board had a meeting at the Ministry with the Head of Psychiatry and Mr St John where the situation at the Mental Hospital where detainees were kept was discussed 4