From Mr J. De Martino

I honestly thought your reporters did their homework properly to give an objective story to your readers. However, in the last two issues I noticed that some of your reporters are either irresponsible and base their articles on hearsay, or your newspaper is biased against Mosta local council.

The article carried last Sunday about the handyman was completely wrong. You did this in spite of the fact that some days before, in a press release, I explained the true facts about the handyman. The handyman does not work part time but more than a full timer. He is a private contractor and NOT an employee of the council. He is on call at any time of the day and any day of the week. He was awarded this contract after a public call as his offer was the cheapest and most advantageous.

Mosta local council uses his services for the various maintenance works on Mosta roads and the public gardens/playing fields. He is responsible for the maintenance of the Council Hall, the Library, the Day Centre and the Councils offices. He coordinates with various other workers/contractors carrying out projects in Mosta to ensure the smooth running of the work. Every week the Council receives a number of complaints many of which are dealt with by the handyman. He takes care of all the functions organised by the local council (and many other organisations) in the Community Hall, the Empowerment Centre and the Library. I can continue this everlasting list if your reporter needs more information.

He is paid on an hourly basis and is not entitled to any leave or sick leave and he receives no bonus whatsoever. From the payments the handyman receives, one must deduct 18 per cent VAT, the National Insurance as a self-employed and obviously Income Tax. I would like to add that both Nationalist and Labour councillors approved his payments for seven whole years, as can be seen from the official minutes. Even the general secretary of the Malta Labour Party approved these payments, when he was a Mosta councillor. It was only after I pointed out these facts in the last Council meeting held on 26 February that the Labour councillors voted against in the presence of the cameras of ONE TV!

Regarding the report carried last Sunday, I would like to inform you that Mosta council engaged NO contractor to pull down the rubble wall in Triq il-Mithna. Such work is not within the remit of the local council. It is not true that I ignored the concerns of the residents. As I have explained a number of times during council meetings, I asked the competent authorities to take the necessary steps to widen Triq il-Mithna. The sleeping policemen were installed immediately after they were approved by ADT. What’s wrong with that?

This shows without any doubt that your reporter is prejudiced against the Mosta local council and has no interest in reporting objectively. I would have expected such biased reports from another section of the media but not from your newspaper!

J. De Martino

Mayor

MOSTA