Inaugurations are basically the middle step between the initial consultations, the necessary planning and the actual supply of services required – the line of action for any team managing an organisation in the public service. That is exactly the strategy we adopt in my parliamentary secretariat. We are meant to deliver the services expected by two very important sectors of our population: the elderly and those with a disability. In our case, inaugurations are rather a point of departure as we endeavour to monitor and upgrade, and keep up with further improvements to ensure quality services.
Needless to say, some may deem such events as mere publicity stunts, but if they ask the beneficiaries of such initiatives, they will know how valuable these are to them in everyday life. Not a single week passes that we are not engaged with such activities which turn out to be the fulfilment of long months of planning. Unveiling a commemorative plaque is in fact the continuation of more intensive field work, followed up with fine tuning. Listening to residents and staff has proved to be the most effective mechanism to efficiently deliver, leaving no stone unturned in our commitment to provide a better service.
The training and retraining of all staff are a sine-qua-non for all projects. This week we introduced another programme at St Vincent de Paule residence, which now has its own in-house training quarters, partly funded by the EU social funds.
This is indeed another leap forward in the government’s electoral promise of investing decisively in human resources, hence ensuring high-quality care services to the elderly and people with a disability. Training levels in these fields have now acquired full academic recognition by the University of Malta and the MQRIC. Some 1,200 workers are now benefitting from this ongoing exercise and they, in turn, will render higher professional care to the elderly. Together with other projects we move closer to rebranding this residence, transforming it into a centre of excellence.
To the government’s mind, all care for the elderly and rightful opportunities for people with disabilities must be backed by a solid legal framework. In fact, on Wednesday, I moved the second reading in Parliament of a motion for the appointment of a Commissioner for Older Persons.
The office of the Commissioner would be a focal point for the elderly to refer to, and the commissioner would promote issues relating to the elderly. He would ensure that government policies were implemented for the benefit of the elderly and work to improve practices and services. Through this legislation we intend to ensure that he will promote opportunities and work against discrimination against the elderly and social exclusion. The Commissioner will be backed by a Council for the Elderly, including representatives of ministries and five people chosen by the council itself, with a view to be as broad-based as possible.
This last week was also ground breaking in my other responsibility, namely the rights of people with disabilities. We held the first annual consultative seminar on disability, enabling us to consult the relevant NGOs and stakeholders on several disability issues. A lot of work still needs to be done, and the seminar was an opportunity to listen to the needs and move forward with the government's programme with regard to this sector.
The seminar took the form of three collateral workshops: the regulatory body led by KNPD chairman Oliver Scicluna; the service provider, led by Sapport Director Mauro Farrugia, and the political aspect led by myself. It was a fruitful listening and consulting exercise in which various NGOs and people with disability participated. These included the Richmond Foundation, Dar tal-Providenza, Arka Foundation, Gozo Federation for Persons with Disability, Breaking Limits, Autism Parents Association and Special Olympics Malta with useful inputs by disabled persons themselves.
My public engagements this week culminated in Gozo. The Gozitans have been blessed that 24 years ago the OASI Foundation was established – a real credit to the vision of Fr Manwel Cordina and his collaborators. It is testimony to the great heart of our tiny Gozo, which lends a receptive ear, a heart that feels, dependable shoulders, a caring soul and above all, a ray of light for whoever feels his life is full of darkness. It was the link between the first and second millennium and it still needs to be a source of courage that will lead us through the third millennium. It was my pleasure to address the important gathering on the chosen theme that focused on the family in the third millennium, with the great work of the OASI Foundation as an inspirational background.
The family is the first structure in any community, with its beauties and difficulties that is developing at such a quick pace and preparing itself for greater tasks and challenges in the future. Being part of the executive, I am required to devote myself with more dedication to the planning and fulfilment of a Social Policy that is based on concrete facts, with projects modelled specifically for the most vulnerable in our society.
It is our firm belief that these people are not to be considered only as individuals with a right to proper dignity, but also, within a comprehensive reality of their family. Our focal points are people in the community, disability in the family and society, distinction of rights and equal opportunities at the workplace and within the national and local economic and social frameworks. Equal rights also imply that everything done for the national good has to be equally available to Gozo and the Gozitans.
My government’s determination to fulfil its promise of providing ‘work for Gozitans in Gozo’, is in fact the background principle and basis of all that is being done on our island. In terms of active ageing and people with disability, we have embarked on a widespread number of projects in various Gozitan villages in the first two years in government. Through various forms of collaboration with Church entities, the private sector and local councils, we are providing a sustainable framework for these members of our community.
This is the way forward. This is our commitment.