Caritas calls for re-definition of poverty line
Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech this morning called for a re-definition of the poverty line and said utility tariffs were pushing those who had been at risk of poverty down to actual poverty.
Mgr Grech was speaking at the opening of a Caritas forum being held on the occasion of the European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion.
Mgr Grech said the definition of the poverty line needed to be updated to a more realistic figure.
A re-definition was also needed of what was an adequate minimum wage in terms of the law, more so as the cost of living had continued to increase.
Mgr Grech pointed out, in particular, to rising costs of medicine and the high cost of property as factors which, along with the utility services, were causing hardship.
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anthony girard
Mar 30th 2010, 19:11
Whwn a man like Mgr Victor Grech says Re-define Poverty he knows what he is talking about because he has been listening to the "poor" for well over 53 years and it is sad to see people like Mr Camenzuli resist what he says.
I have heard this type of resistance before and it usually comes either from those who prefer to deny the existence of poverty or from those who simply cannot conceive what poverty REALLY means.
Charles Miceli
Mar 19th 2010, 11:45
Those who argue that there is no poverty in Malta as those who claim that are poor spend their money on super 5 must redifine their concept of poverty. If you spend all your earnings on gambling then you must suffer from "addiction" - which is another form of poverty.
Reality is that in this country there are thousand of people living on a meagre 100 euros a week while thousands more who are on a minimum wage or a minimum pension are struggling to make ends meet.
Those who ask for solutions in this situation must start looking at ways of how wealth created in the country can be fairly distributed. Don't push me for examples but those who are well off tend to look the other way when the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
g.c.Forte
Mar 18th 2010, 12:43
Ghoqod hambaq u inkwieta Mons, biex imbaghad jigi bhal joe camenzuli ,u jibda jinsinwa bl`addocc. Dan jaf li qabel il Karitas jghejnu lil xi hadd, jadduh min passatur ( u sewwa jghamlu ), Issa jekk jaf lil xi hadd,u zgur li jaf, ghax tkellem b`konvizzjoni, ghandu imur fl`eqreb Ministeru u jirraporta. Jew bhal gvern u ghanke l-oppozizjoni, ikun jaqbel li inhallu ghajn wahda maluqa, minhabba il voti, u int u jien inhallsu ghalihom, specjalment ta dawk li jirregistraw lil uliedhom bhala " unkown father " gieli ghal tliet itfal ghal l-istess mara .Jien qatt ma nemmen dan il fenonimu.
J.N.Buhagiar
Mar 18th 2010, 07:48
@ joe camenzuli
My apologies for saying so. But are you living .............
I suggest that you at least respect the second comandment, Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Go to work for caritas just for a few days or seek to find the poor families to see how they are strugling to survive. The perhaps, just perhaps, you could understand suddenly, the hardships they face, and that you are living
...................in the moon.
M cassar
Mar 18th 2010, 02:14
SO according to joe camenzuli there are no poor people in Malta, they must be hiding their money. Grow up please there is no politics on this issue it's just a matter of helping those in need, as I suggested earlier we need something like a tobin tax where the richer section of Malta has to fork out more money to help those that need food and medicine, I agree the ones mostly hit are pensioners and unemploeyed fathers who need to feed a whole family, let's leave politics out of this please and demand help them for them if you are truly christian and if you love your people, the rich segment must be more generous, let them die a decent death, let them live a decent live. Why do we always shore up money for countries outside of Malta and when the help arises for our own people we forget them, why do we hate ourselves so much. There's no blue or red or green poor people but simply maltese people. I'm unemployed but these people need much more help I can survive but these people might not. Help them.
joe camenzuli
Mar 17th 2010, 21:25
As I said on various occasions There is no poverty in Malta. Those who say they can't make ends meet are the same people who spend their benefits on super5 and the lotto weekly.
There are people in Malta who still keep their cash at home rather then investing it (money hidden away not to be seen) so that they can claim social benefits plus assistance with utility bills. Some who say they can't cope with the cost of living still drive a car, with air condition installed in their homes, etc... The problem is that most are bring their children up with as the English say 'the state will look after you from the craddle to the grave'.
deo micallef
Mar 17th 2010, 21:53
Jaqaw int komdu bizzejjed li qed tghix go dija ghalik li matafx x'qed jigri hemm barra. Il-faqar jezisti f'kull pajjiz fid-dinja, sinjur kemm hu sinjur ahseb u ara f'Malta, tikka ta art minghajr ebda risorsi. tista tghidli kif il faqar ma jezistix hawn malta meta ghanda kwazi l- inqas pagi fl-ewropa, wiehed mill iktar popli intaxxat u fejn il-prezz ta kwazi kull oggett li tista tixtri huwa ghola hafna minn bosta pajjizi u biex tghaxxaqha il-gvern kompla jisloh billi gholla b'mod goff il kontijiet ta l-ilma u id dawl, kif ukoll il-prezz tal gass. Ma ninsewx ukoll il prezzijiet esagerati tal-propjeta fejn il familji barra li iridu ilahhqu mal hajja ikollhom ghall snin twal ihallsu il-loans tal bank. L-argument tieghek fejn qe tiggenaralizza huwa bazwi, qed tghid li in nies jippreferu jonfqu flushom fil-lottu, fis sigaretti u ghand il-hairdresser biex imbghad ma ikollhomx flus biex ihallsu il-kontijiet tad dawl u l-ilma u jispiccaw bis servizz maqtuh! U hallina siehbi, taf min hu komdu bhalissa? Min ghandu xi job for the boys!!
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 07:28
Prove it. Why don't you go to Caritas and then go back to the homes of these people and see whether you will change your ideas and vies about them?
John A. Zammit
Mar 17th 2010, 20:47
I invite armchair critics like Messrs Tabone and Farrugia to come and spend some time at Caritas and listen to what the people who call there have to say. Well done Mons. Grech you are a person who has always called a spade a spade and for this you hold the respect of all Maltese of good will.
MBorg
Mar 17th 2010, 20:37
@ M Tabone
" What shall be the solution ,increase social benefits toall oe cut down the abuses and support the real needy ?"
There are families who need support , but there is no need to increase social benefits to all. I would say remove some social benefits. Our taxes shluld be used to help those who really need it. It does not make sense , for example, to give children's allowance to couples who do not need it. Company directors, professionals and others on high salary do not need our help. Our taxes should be used to increase imnimun pay and our sate pension. As things stand pensioners are the most at risk of falling below the poverty line. Mr Tabone I do not know your age however be sure that not all needy persons or pensioners smoke, however they all need to eat , buy medicine and other things to help them live in dignity.
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 07:30
Good comments. Xi whud jidhru li jpoggu lil kulhadd f'keffa wahda.
Alfred Cassar
Mar 17th 2010, 20:03
This is not a subject for partisan politics. It's wrong to generalise, yes there are some who claim that they are poor but with a bit of initiative from their side they will can come out of their 'poverty'. There are others who need to put their priorities right and thus stay out of poverty. I don't agree that real poverty is so high in Malta.
There are however those who are really in poverty and we as Catholics must help these people. There are Church institutions who collect money and other stuff to help out these people. I believe that if the abuses on Social Security benefits are stopped, the Government will be in a better position to help these real poor people. The social services benefits should be there not to help laziness but to help the ones who are poor without any own fault.
Michael Gatt
Mar 17th 2010, 17:49
Proset Mons Grech halli min ghandu dover lejn il poplu li tellaw ma jibqax jitratthom qishom ma jeziztux. Halli min ghandu widnejn jisma u jwaqqaf dawn il hnizrijiet ta prezzijiet
c. camilleri
Mar 17th 2010, 17:37
All labourites are praising the Mons now that there is a Nationalist Govt. I wonder how they would react once there is a labour Govt.
M cassar
Mar 17th 2010, 17:15
J Farrugia Il-foqra jghazlu li jkunu foqra. Din isbah
Ha nerga nikwota li ghidt int ha tinduna wahdek.
il-faqar qed igibuh b'idejhom in-nies stess. Separazzjonijiet, ghazz, tqala bla missirijeit maghrufa, injuranza u nuqqas ta' attendenza fl-iskola. mela min jissepara it-tort tieghu sallbuh, min hu fqir it tort tieghu sallbuh, min tilef xogholu it tort tieghu sallbuh! Min xtara pakkett sigaretti forsi biex jaqtawlu l guh u ma jikolx jew ghax ikun stressjat sallbuh! Tfal li ma jmorrux skola sallbuhom. Tfajliet li jinqabdu tqal u ma jibqawx mal-missier sallbuhom. Din hi verament l-injuranza, l mentalita li nippuntaw u niggudikaw minghajr ma nafu sitwazzjoni. Nispera li tinduna wahdek .
matthew scerri
Mar 17th 2010, 16:31
L-irgulija fil-kliem li ghadu kif qal dan il-qassis hija ikbar mill-irgulija kollha f'daqqa li hemm fil-parlament u l-qrati maltin.
smifsud
Mar 17th 2010, 16:06
@Mr Tabone ....please save us your far right speech ....open your eyes and see the greed thats going on ....if the country cant provide decent wages and enough jobs then the country will create poverty ....this will only be twarted by a minimum standard of living law giving the essentails to every woman, man, and child a roof over ther head food on the table and heat and electricity....stop blaming the poor for abuseing the system ..its the rich who is doing that which in turn are creating poverty and rise in crime etc ......
JOe VELLa
Mar 17th 2010, 15:43
@MTabone
Sir I do not know you from Adam, yet I meet people like you who think that the world began since you starting working and paying your N.I.
I assure when I was younger I felt 100 per cent like you do . Sort of why should I pay for others?
Now I am old and I am reaping the benefits of my N.I. payment that I hated to pay when younger. However I can assure you I do not smoke, I do not drink, I do not gamble, and do not go out. I worry as my water and electricity bill has not came yet and do not know what to expect with the state pension there is not much left to play with.
May I wish Mr. M. Tabone lot of good health and strength because I assure him he is lucky as others are not so.
Marion Pace
Mar 17th 2010, 15:25
Thank you Mons Grech ( a faraway cousin) the universal church should follow his example and speak out for the minorities without any fear. You are the modern example of a true Christ Follower. Thank you for the poor of our country perhaps the PM will open his eyes and heart!
c.camilleri
Mar 17th 2010, 15:03
There is no country in the world where poverty does not exists whether this is relative poverty or real. But did the Monsignor dwell into the way these poor people live. Did he asked them how much they spend on gambling such as super 5 or lotto? How much they spend on drinks and cigarettes? Our statistics confirm that mobile phones outstrip the number of persons on these islands. Our roads can not longer accept more cars and house owners are one of the highest in Europe. All statistical figures do not show the gloomy picture that the Mons described. i think that the Mons has omitted one thing. Much of the poverty exists because of lack of knowledge about priorities in life. Having said this i cannot see a time when poverty will be eliminated. About the electricity and water tariffs he forgot to mention that about 30,000 have been exempted from them.
No one ever dare to speak like that when we the all the Maltese experienced real poverty being deprived of even a bar of chocolate and other essential commodities
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 10:05
Dejjem tpoggi lil kulhadd f'keffa wahda meta tkun xi haga kontra l-gvern tieghek. Ghax ma tmurx sal-Caritas u tara b'ghejnejk sur/sinjura camilleri?
Henry J Bonett
Mar 17th 2010, 14:43
The root of the problem is the excessive acquisition of wealth and power and the devil's hind leg to its humane distribution. Nothing wrong in being rich and being rewarded for one's effort and risk; this in fact creates opportunities for others. But there must be a social conscience to go with it. Excess is vulgar. But the world has gone beyond the vulgar to the absolutely inhumane. A lot of lip service is bandied about by World, European and other organizations. But this serves only as a fig leaf to cover their reluctance to reverse this rampant, madly acquisitive and ultimately destructive course. Thanks Mons. Grech.
c delia
Mar 17th 2010, 14:39
il poverty jesisti ghax hafna ma jafux il prijoritajiet . in nies li huma fil faqar huma dawk l istess nies li dejjem tarhom fuq l istalls tal hwejjeg u dehlin u hergin ghand il beautician ghand il hairdresser u ghand tal lottu
ahjar li kieku it tfal nghallmuhom min issa jaghmlu budgeting u il prijoritajiet x inhuma ghax hafna jahsbu li takkwista affarijiet mhux ta bzonn huwa dritt ghax ma tridtx tkun anqas min haddiehor
jewilla irriedu l gvern jaghmel tajjeb uwkoll ghal dawnk l affarijiet li mhux daqstant bzonn
ic cheque tal benefizzju ghandu jikkaverja il lussu uwkoll meta jien inhallas it taxxa
ic cheque tal pensioni ma jservihomx lanqas meta dawn lizjed nies li jaghmlu inxestimenti u safar
james grech
Mar 17th 2010, 17:05
Imma kif tista tiggeneralizza b dan il mod? Kif kulhadd ikun pront jaghti gudizzju u jwahhal f dik u fl ohra? Mela qed ninsew li ahna Kattolici jew fejn jaqblilna biss niftakru?
Taf kif trid tkun f dan il pajjiz? Trid tkun bhal dak il bajjad, li injurant u tuba kemm tridu, u lanqas jaf jikteb ismu, tant li meta tipprova thallsu b'cheque, jghidlek, "jekk jista jkun tini cash" ;) Sur Delia, ejja ma niggeneralizzawx ghax awn min vera qieghed f xifer, u hafna drabi mhux tord tieghu li wasal hemm.
J.Borg
Mar 17th 2010, 14:33
It's amazing how PN media isn't reporting this article as well!!!!!!!
Can anyone guess why?
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 17th 2010, 14:13
M.Tabone, May I quote you : "We should speak louder on the aspects related to laziness; some people seek to remain free-riders forever."
Work place practise should also be in my opinion very carefully investigated too. If there are people out there who want to work but seek not to, well one has to ask why also. Work place ethics or established codes of practise might indeed need a very deep good look at. Even within the government civil service, just to mention an example that comes to MY OWN VERY INDIVIDUAL MIND.
All best small little Malta, I love you more than most people do there.
g.c.Forte
Mar 17th 2010, 14:10
Coming out from a person like Mgr.Victor Grech........it is worth think about it, but may I ask. What about the whole church ? Are our Bishops aware of the situation ? Are they aware of the 24/ 7 gaming facilities, that we have, and are one of the reasons of our destructive families? In the old days, the church use to open its mouth and bite, for smaller things. I do not wish to enter politics, but I wonder if it was the L.P. in government, the church will act other wise.
Anton Miceli
Mar 17th 2010, 13:52
I kindly ask your readers not turn this news into another partisan political debate as has been done in almost all Maltese issues. Mons Grech besides mentioning the realities people are encountering in Malta is also referring to European realities which for sure are irrelevant to Maltese administration or political party. Please let's try to start putting aside partisan political debates and try to propose recommandations which may be ideal to our society keeping in mind both the country's economic situation and the people's financial and social situations.
J Farrugia
Mar 17th 2010, 13:48
Mons il-faqar qed igibuh b'idejhom in-nies stess. Separazzjonijiet, ghazz, tqala bla missirijeit maghrufa, injuranza u nuqqas ta' attendenza fl-iskola. Dawn kollha huma l-ingredjenti ewlenin biex jaghmlu bniedem injurant, bla hiliet bazici biex wiehed isib xoghol li jaghtih sodisfazzjon u jirrendilu paga. u nies li jistennew b'arroganza li l-istat ghandhu jaghtihom kollox hu. L-istat huwa ahna l-haddiema u l-poplu kollu. U ma jistax ikun li ahna nibqghu nissussidjaw l-ghazz u l-modi stravaganti ta' hajja li qed jghixu dawk li qed jghidu li huma 'fqar'. Ghax ghad jigi zmien mhux fil-boghod li ahna stess insiru l-fqar veri ta' Malta. U mbaghad lilna, MIN SER JGHINA? NISTHU NIGU NITTALBU LILEK!
lgalea
Mar 17th 2010, 21:13
Qatt ma neskludi li jkun hemm min veru huwa ghazzien u jrid jghix minn fuq haddiehor, imma ma jidhirlekx li qed tiggeneralizza? Bir-ragunar tieghek naqflu lil kulhadd il-habs halli jispiccaw is-serq u kull ksur ta' ligi iehor.
lorraine anastasi
Mar 17th 2010, 13:30
I have always admired Mgr Victor Grech , and today's declaration was the cherry on the cake as we needed someone such as him to say it as it is, No unions, no political parties. Now will the Goverment get down from it's high horse and realise what's happening out in this island of ours? Dr Gatt showed us his ignorance when stating that he has no idea how much bottled gas costs. Ignorance is bliss!!! and so they keep on acting like ostriches, head in the sand!!! and poor us , hardly making it till the third week of the month, But i forgot, goverment ministers wages and perks (chauffered cars, phone bills and most probably even discounted electricity bills) are nothing compared to ours common folk!
M Tabone
Mar 17th 2010, 13:30
The devil is in the detail and not in the outer skin. The risk of poverty is there for everyone. On the other hand why should someone assume that living with the modern basics is just something standard for all, irrespective of the effort and other economic fundamentals? Are we setting our priorities right?! It goes without saying that some are vulnerable more than others and require social support but we should be more specific and avoid blanket statements. Several cannot cope because their priorities are not right, some people complain that they cannot manage but they still smoke 5 euros a day and still include silly items among their basics. We should speak louder on the aspects related to laziness; some people seek to remain free-riders forever. What shall be the solution - increase social benefits to all or cut down abuses and support the real needy. I respect Mgr Victor Grech, his dedication and hard work to support people in need is known by all, but I think it’s high time to start caring about those that are working hard to pay for abuses and those robbing the system at the expense of others.
james grech
Mar 17th 2010, 14:37
When those that are hard working feel that no matter how much hard work they put into their life, it does not seem to make any difference, then something is definitely wrong in this country. Abuse was always an issue, and is not a recent phenomenon. Moreover, the present economic situation will most probably give rise to an increase in abuse; just check the prices of various essentials to see whether this is happening. Though there was an increase in prices of certain items and the addition of indirect taxes (cause that is what the increase in utility tariffs is after all, given that the price of oil is still very much less then what it was a year or so ago), wages did not experience an equally proportional increase. The result is what it is, families trying to make ends meet by actually lowering their standard of living.
lgalea
Mar 17th 2010, 21:17
"....why should someone assume that living with the modern basics is just something standard for all..."
Apart from other observations, you are contradicting yourself because if they are modern basics, everyone should have them because in your own words they are BASICS. Anyone not having these basics is POOR Tabone. As for your other assertions that they smoke 5 euros a day and other assumptions your are so generalizing that your comments cannot be taken seriously.
Emmanuel Gauci
Mar 17th 2010, 13:29
Mons Victor Grech is Malta's conscience. Let's give him attention.
laurence schembri
Mar 17th 2010, 13:28
Why bring politics into it, weigh and chew every word that the Monsignor is saying and hope that others in high places are listening.
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 17th 2010, 13:21
Poverty in the modern post Berlin Wall Europe !!! That would make a nice Phd thesis, written in upper educated english and only for the highly educated to understand !!!
In Germany, actually a recent study concluded that 1/8 live in poverty and that another 1/8 is on the way to poverty !!! In this time of worldwide economic insecurity German companies have significantly increased their military exports and are currently the worlds third largest exporter of such equipment !!! I say again, EXPORTERS to non German IMPORTERS !!!
What a complete joke this has become !!!
steve compagno
Mar 17th 2010, 12:42
Finally! Somebody is speaking up on poverty! These people need a strong, neutral (not political) voice to represent them: the Church. Mgr Victor Grech made a reference to utility tariffs, high costs of medicine and properties. I hope the authorities listen to him: he doesn't speak politically - but reality.
mario scerri
Mar 17th 2010, 12:40
Dan mhux qed jghidu l-Partit Laburista imma kull min ghandu jdejh fuq il-polz tal-poplu.
Sfortunatament illum il-faqar sar evidenti hafna.
Joe E Galea
Mar 17th 2010, 12:40
Let's bet the PN apologists will start shooting all their ammunition agains Mgr Grech now too as he spoke against the insane utility tariffs imposed by their GonziPN.
M Cassar
Mar 17th 2010, 12:36
Well done to Mgr Victor Grech the only organisation that seems to love the maltese and wants to help them while everyone talks about poor people from 3rd world countries and immigrants.
Dazgur li mohbi l faqar kulhadd jisthi jghid li m ghandux flus biex lit tfal taghhom jixtrulom l affarjiet essenzjali bhal tfal ohra. Well done!
marthese mussett
Mar 17th 2010, 12:36
Thank you Mgr Grech for all the work you do.Only this week I read that Malta is out of recession...and I thought I was reading a joke.