Mark Montebello's blog

Illum il-politika trid issib spazji dejjem ġodda biex toffri servizzi aħjar kemm lill-poplu lokali kif ukoll lill-barranin li jżuru l-inħawi. Dan hu żmien is-servizzi. Ir-raġuni ewlenija hija li kemm il-poplu lokali kif ukoll il-barranin li jżuruh huma xi ftit jew wisq nies li għandhom sold taħt rashom u jridu ħajja ta’ kumdità hienja. Il-bidu tas-sebgħinijiet Il-poplu tagħna beda jħoss sewwa l-ħtieġa għas-servizzi f’nofs is-snin sebgħin meta l-politika tal-gvern Laburista mmexxi minn Dom Mintoff kien irnexxielu jibda jgħolli l-livell tal-ħajja tan-nies. Qabel, għalkemm il-poplu Malti u Għawdxi ma kienx eżattament qed imut bil-ġuħ, lanqas ma kien qed jgħix fil-lussu jew kien f’pożizzjoni li jagħmel kapriċċi kbar. Dal-istat ta’ bejn faqar serju u ċertu grad ta’ lussu jidhirli li dam tul is-snin sittin. F’dan iż-żmien is-servizzi ma kinux l-aktar għall-Maltin u l-Għawdxin imma għat-turisti li bdew iżuruna f’għadd dejjem akbar. Il-poplu Malti, però, kien għadu qed jitqabad mal-ħaj...

Marisa Micallef ( The Times of Malta , June 9) is so right to point out that “when you are genuinely homeless and have no cash, help can’t arrive six months in arrears”. However, this does not only concern rent subsidies. Here are some other similar cases: A jobless person who, for some reason or another, has his or her benefits cut off will not receive any benefits if not six months later. If a person who had been receiving benefits for the jobless is regularly employed, the benefits will be cut off. All well and good. But if, for some reason or other, that person’s employment is terminated, benefits will not arrive before six months. He or she will then receive six months benefits in arrears. The same goes for jobless and/or homeless persons who are released from prison. No benefits will be forthcoming during the following six months. The full amount is paid in arrears six months after release. There may be cases of abuse in all of these areas but genuine cases certainly exist...