The House of Representatives bid farewell to Social Policy minister John Dalli yesterday after he handed in his resignation letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the speaker.
Deputy speaker Carmelo Abela read out the resignation letter and thanked Mr Dalli for his long years of service. Speaker Louis Galea also sent a letter acknowledging the resignation and extended his thanks to Mr Dalli and his family.
Meanwhile, labour speaker for foreign affairs, George Vella criticised the government for calling parliament to a break until Mr Dalli is replaced. He said the Prime Minister has such an instable parliamentary group with a one-person majority that he fears losing votes in parliament.
At the same time, the Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement with the new responsibilities of the ministers.
Earlier on, the house continued the discussion on the budgetary measures implementation bill.
Labour speaker for family and equality, Justyne Caruana spoke on various issues relating to poverty and equality in Gozo.
She quoted sections of the National audit office report highlighting irregularities in Gozo.
The audit covering the procurement of Operating Materials and Supplies by the Gozo General Hospital was limited due to non-availability of certain source records necessary for audit purposes, coupled with the absence of a stock recording system on food provision. Various key irregularities, such as lack of control in the Food Provisions Section, were identified during this audit, she said.
She also spoke on the Home Care and Help Services Scheme in Gozo.
The audit reports says how verification over the expenditure in relation to the scheme, designed to provide elderly or persons with special needs with non-nursing, basic domestic help and personal care at their homes, was carried out at both the Ministry for Gozo and the Elderly and Community Care Department in Malta. Common observations noted relate to the lack of means testing in the process of awarding of service, charging of a fixed nominal fee irrespective of the service given and lack of audit trail.
She added that this is a vicious circle in which people who are privileged are gaining over those who are deprived.
This confirms why some government office do not receive enough supply of soap and toilet paper while other sectors are serviced better because they sympathise with particular people, she said while stressing that this explains why the Gozo ministry is not able to cope with the demands for its services.
Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono rebutted, in more than one occasion, that the opposition is painting a bleak picture of the situation in Gozo when this in not the case.
She said the budget invested in Gozo was very positive. Certain projects initiated in Gozo, could not materialise without the nationalist government’s dedication towards Gozo, she went on. The work towards the government’s vision of Eco-Gozo shall continue while the opposition still considers Gozo in the same way it did in the past, she said.
Eco-Gozo means a better Gozo with quality investment, which generates sustainable jobs, better quality of life for the Gozitans, an inclusive community and full support to maintain the unique Gozo identity, she concluded.
Parliament was adjourned until 1 March 2010.