Mosquito device ‘treats young people like pests’

Alternattiva Demokratika Żagħżagħ has denounced the use of a mosquito device in a Tarxien public garden to disperse young people causing disturbances in the area.

The youth movement said it was dismayed at the “heavy-handed manner” in which the council was dealing with alleged public disturbances in the locality.

The Sunday Times last week reported that the council had installed the device in Ovindoli Garden. the device emits a high-pitched sound, heard only by younger people, with the intention of driving them away from the area.

Chairman Reuben Zammit said: “No amount of disturbance can justify the use of this device, reminiscent of Big Brotherism, in a democratic society. Local councils have no business deploying anti-personnel weapons against people.”

The device was “highly insulting” and treated young people “like unwanted pests”.