President George Abela said today that the case where the board of the Malta Community Chest Fund offered to help the sister of his daughter-in-law in her masters’ course on eating disorders was a one-off incident and he was confident that the people would continue to back the presidency in the remaining year of its term.
He also declared that he had no intention of serving a second term, even if that was possible.
Dr Abela insisted that the offer made by the board following his own proposal was not unprecedented. Among others, over the past years, the Community Chest Fund had also assisted two nurses follow a course in palliative care (a cost of €29,000). Another person was assisted in a specialist course on equipment used by patients.
Indeed, such assistance fell within the statute of the Community Chest Fund.
Speaking on TV Hemm, Dr Abela said that Darleen Zerafa was giving voluntary help to the Community Chest Fund as it set up a much-needed residential institutional to help people with eating disorders.
The home, called Dar Kenn Ghall-Sahhtek, will open in the autumn, offering professional help to some 30 residents for up to six months.
The project was launched last year jointly with the health authorities after the government made premises available in Mtarfa.
Dr Abela said Ms Zerafa had been helping in the project because of her competence in the subject. She was doing so in a foundation along with a representative of the Health ministry and Psychiatrist Anton Grech.
He stressed that the decision to offer her assistance was not taken by him.
He had made the proposal, but the decision was taken unanimously by the board - made up of representatives of the two political parties, the church and a cross-section of society.
Ms Zerafa was already benefiting from a scholarship granted by the Italian authorities, the President said. They had showed their confidence in Ms Zerafa, so why shouldn't the Community Chest Fund, when her expertise was benefiting the MCCF's own project?
The issue was not course fees, but ways to help her in other ways, such as travel expenses, because she had been bending over backwards to save money.
Dr Abela said he had asked Ms Zerafa to leave the room while he made the proposal. He did not say anything else after making the proposal. The board held its discussion and asked the treasurer to speak to Ms Zerafa about her needs, but she declined all help, while showing appreciation.
Dr Abela said that the motivation for the offer was the fact that Ms Zerafa was giving very important help in the Community Chest Fund’s project.
It was crucial that the institution achieved European standards, and this was where Ms Zerafa, a pharmacist and nutritionist was giving sterling service. The MCCF had also been seeking help from experts in Italy. Her further training would continue to benefit the Community Chest Fund and hence, society at large.
It was not true, he insisted, that Dar Kenn Ghall-Sahhtek would be run by Ms Zerafa. A public call for those who wished to work there would be issued in the coming weeks.
However her presence in helping in the setting up of the institution was a sine qua non because she was already involved in the Community Chest Fund and she had volunteered her professional help.
Dr Abela condemned whoever had opted to leak an extract of the October minutes of the MCCF board meeting and said that whoever was responsible had to shoulder his/her responsibilities. The Malta Community Chest Fund could not publish its minutes because of their sensitive nature, he said.
He, however, would not be involved in political controversies, despite having been personally hurt. Unfortunately, he said, comment on the issue had been made without a proper appreciation of the facts.