Mayor, deputy bar MIC official's entry to centre

An official from the Malta-EU Information Centre was yesterday barred from entering the Birzebbuga day care centre by the mayor, the deputy mayor and other people.

The police, led by assistant commissioner Josie Brincat, had to intervene after tempers flared.

The official, Carmel Attard, was finally allowed in to address about 80 senior citizens keen to ask questions about Malta's EU membership bid. The police were present throughout the meeting.

Mr Attard said: "The mayor, the deputy mayor and some other people physically blocked the way. I had to tell them not to touch me. Fortunately, the police turned up".

He said that a meeting then took place between the centre's administration, the police and the council.

"After waiting for around 15 minutes, the police informed me I could proceed to address the senior citizens who were still waiting inside."

Mr Attard expressed surprise at the incident.

"First of all, the meeting had been scheduled and agreed with the administration. Secondly, we have organised other information talks in Birzebbuga over the past months, together with the council. Neither is this the first time we have organised such meetings for senior citizens."

Mr Attard said the meeting was very fruitful. "The elderly people participated fully and the meeting was very cordial and informative."

When contacted, Birzebbuga mayor Joe Farrugia said he had nothing against MIC or its information sessions.

"I want to stress we have nothing against elderly people getting more information about the EU and we have nothing against MIC.

"The council pays the daily rent and electricity bills of the centre and must be consulted about what is taking place. Unfortunately, the centre's administration decided not to consult us on the matter and that is why we decided to take such action.

"Some other people and I physically blocked the entrance because for us it was unacceptable that we were not consulted."

Mr Farrugia also threatened to stop paying the Lm12 daily rent unless the personnel administering the centre are removed.

However, at last night's Nationalist Party council meeting, parliamentary secretary for the elderly Antoine Mifsud Bonnici said that if the threat were carried out, the department for the elderly would take on the rent payments.

One of the senior citizens who attended the MIC meeting said: "Yesterday's activities started with a Mass followed by a small birthday party for one of the elderly people. There was a very united and peaceful atmosphere until some councillors and other people - not members of the centre - created all that unnecessary hassle."