Warden and facilitator to be arraigned over scuffle

A local warden and a learning support assistant will be arraigned today over a scuffle yesterday morning.

The incident was first brought to light by the teachers' union, which said a fight between the two broke out at the Boys' Junior Lyceum in Sta Venera.

The union blamed the warden, saying he entered the school to fine the assistant. An argument broke out and the warden struck the assistant, who suffered head, face and arm injuries and was treated at the Lyceum's clinic, the union said.

It also said the assistant was allegedly thrown to the ground and kicked by the warden.

However, the General Workers' Union said shortly afterwards that the information it received was different to that given by the teachers' union.

It said it was informed that the assistant tried to stop the warden from carrying out his duty and actually assaulted the latter, who only defended himself.

This was corroborated by the warden's employer, Guard and Warden Service House, and Raphael Carabott, an authorised officer from the joint committee of local councils, who said the scuffle took place at Fleur de Lys junction, which was closed to traffic shortly before school began.

He said the assistant was allegedly late for work and insisted that the warden let him drive to the Lyceum and the latter objected.

The assistant then allegedly struck the warden's handheld computer and tried to drive past him, crashing in the Lyceum's yard in the midst of the commotion.

Mr Carabott said the police were asked to intervene and both the warden and the assistant were detained for further investigation.