The dignity and security of the elderly should be safeguarded at all costs, according to Labour health spokesman Prof. Anthony Zammit.

Prof. Zammit was speaking at Dingli Circus in Sliema, where 80-year-old Rose Garroni was violently mugged outside her apartment last December. She later died of her injuries in hospital.

On the eve of International Day of the Elderly, Prof. Zammit said the elderly made up 20 per cent of Malta's population, with this amount expected to rise significantly due to advances in medicine. He said the Labour Party believed the elderly had a right to dignity, security and peace of mind.

He added that the Labour Party was concerned by the fact that many elderly people were in danger of going below the poverty line, a situation not helped by the rising cost of living, including gas and electricity prices.

On top of all that, he said, was the shortage of vital medicines, and the fact their cost took a significant proportion of senior citizens' pensions.

Referring to the death of Ms Garroni last year, Prof. Zammit said that last year 47 people had been arraigned in court on charges of criminal acts against elderly people. However, there were also many incidents which went unreported, but which still left victims with psychological trauma.