The Malta Labour Party had once again chosen to criticise the government over a sector, that of the elderly, where the facts make it clear that the government’s track record is by far better than that of the MLP, said a statement issued by the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Elderly.

In the statement, issued in reply to one published by Labour MPs Marie Louis Coleiro and Silvio Parnis, the secretariat said that for every Lm1 contributed by elderly people who are resident in government homes, the government invests Lm4 for their treatment.

The secretariat said that two new air-conditioning systems were being installed, at a cost of Lm150,000, to replace older systems in two wards. Another two wards will also have air-conditioning in the weeks to come and, in wards where no air-conditioning exists as yet, all steps are being taken to reduce the inconvenience.

The government is also installing kitchenettes, including mini-bars, at the Mosta home for the elderly. Damage to the television antenna, which had made it impossible to receive local stations, was being repaired, but the satellite system was functioning properly, the secretariat said.