When an accident happens on our roads the issue of safety crops up once again. It is the usual thing we talk, comment and write after every event. The recent days were characterised with accidents on a number of roads. The major accident happened in a so-classified residential road in Zejtun where three people lost their lives: Jonathan Seychell, Roxana D’Anastasi both 20 years old and their three-year-old daughter Kelsey while driving along President Anton Buttigieg Street. Many felt sorry that this young couple and their daughter lost their lives so early. However, this was not the first accident on this same road. There were others who lost their lives or suffered injuries.

I am informed that the Zejtun local council made a number of submissions to the Transport Authority, but until now it has had no success. The Traffic Management Unit within the same authority made plans, however, these plans are still on paper despite being ready on 10 October, 2007. How many lives need to be lost on our roads, and especially in this particular road, for the ADT to do something? In putting speed cameras the authority acted very quickly but today we know why. Speed cameras generate money, but traffic management does not... or at least it seems so. As such instead of trying to shed responsibility on the council, the authority (ADT) should shoulder responsibility and do the necessary works in this street as soon as possible.

Of course safety on our roads does not only depend on the authority concerned. We as drivers need to do our part as well by driving carefully, without excessive speeding and according to regulations. It is of utmost importance. But we must remind those concerned that they are paid from the public coffers to shoulder responsibility to guarantee, as much as possible, road safety. The way roads are built, both old and new, and other issues which are of top priority should be taken care of to avoid accidents. It is very strange that nowadays when we have many more cars, our roads are becoming narrower. Those in authority should explain this ‘new’ concept. We had roads with two carriage ways and when these were reconstructed, they were reduced to singles.

When we as parliamentarians ask the Minister about these and other, such as who determines the speed limit on our roads which differ from one road to the other, no one gives an explanation. The authority seems above all since replies are very few and far between. But what I really hope is that this authority, along with everyone else collectively, gives due attention to road safety.

Numerus clausus

Restrictions in our educational system still exist. These exist at MCAST and also at University level. These might not be called numerus clausus but the result is the same. I remember debating with the Prime Minister some years ago at the University of Malta, pointing out that year after year a number of prospective students were being left out from taking an IT course at MCAST, while another minister was arguing that we need hundreds of people in IT, especially because of the SmartCity project. Thank God a solution then was found when the private sector was engaged in providing training on behalf of MCAST to hundreds of students.

Now we have another issue among others. In July there was a campaign run by the health authorities to entice more people to take up this career. But now some weeks after this campaign, those interested are being refused. All this is happening also in the wake of criticism that we do not have enough nurses at Mater Dei, among other places. And now that (thank God) there are people who are interested in such a tough career, they are being refused. Can someone explain why all this mess? This year 379 applied for a BSc (Hons) in nursing and a diploma in health science but only 140 will be admitted.

Presumably, for the campaign, money was spent since adverts on television and radios were made and also leaflets were printed. But after this luxury, so to speak, students are not being admitted to these courses. What a shame!

But there is another issue which is not yet clear. The minister is saying that the Health ministry is aiming to have 240 new nurses by 2012 and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses is warning that 1,000 will be required by 2013. What a difference! So what is the amount required? If this issue is not settled we will end up in a situation where we cannot move forward and reach the required amount.

Finally, I end by repeating that the numerus clausus still exists in spite of having politicians from the PN saying that such things belong to the past. It does not, and I urge these people to talk and listen to disillusioned students who were not admitted. We also had those who preached that students should be free to choose whichever course they wanted even when we exceed saturation point. It seems that this does not apply to nursing in particular.

Carmelo Abela

Deputy Speaker and

Labour main spokesperson for industry and foreign investment

Email: [email protected]