Labour MP Carmelo Abela questioned some decisions taken by ADT’s CEO. Mr Abela claimed the CEO has a conflict of interest because he also owns a tour agency and he uses the services of a particular coach garage; he changed the traffic signs in Xemxija to accommodate this person and he also sold to this person two old buses that used to operate in Malta and that ADT wanted to sell abroad.

In his reply, Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett referred to previous parliamentary replies. As regards the Xemxija road sign changes, Mr Mugliett said these had been effected to ensure more security on the road.

Domestic violence cases

A total of 403 case of domestic violence was reported between January and November last year to Appogg, Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina told Adrian Vassallo.

42 women and 43 children were living in shelters run by Appogg, the minister added.

Aggression in schools

There were six incidents in which a teacher was attacked last year, Education Minister Louis Galea told Adrian Vassallo and three more incidents in which Education Division employees were attacked.

Female genital

mutilation

The government is to consider turning female genital mutilation, which is practised in many east African countries, into a crime, Justice Minister Tonio Borg told Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

Problems at Mtarfa

A reply by Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg to Robert Arrigo highlighted the plight of the Mtarfa local council and the many problems that beset it.

The council did not meet through the months of August to October due to lack of quorum, in breach of the law.

The council’s executive secretary has been out on sick leave since last March and an acting secretary, who is also an executive secretary from another council took over.

The minister added the department is continually checking the council since this has huge administrative problems. The only clerk of the council has also resigned and it is the mayor who is opening the offices on a daily basis.

The Mtarfa local council was one of the four councils which ended the 2005-2006 financial year with a deficit in its working capital. The council however, is doing all it can to lessen this deficit.