[attach id=261745 size="medium"]Claudio Grech: “Critical social problems in first district.” Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

Nationalist MP Claudio Grech will be forfeiting his parliamentary honoraria over this legislature to finance a foundation to help under-privileged communities in his electoral district.

Mr Grech unveiled his plan to set up the ‘Save a Life Foundation’ during a news conference yesterday.

MPs receive honoraria of €19,000 a year, which is calculated as half of the national pay scale.

The former chairman of the Government’s IT agency said the foundation would be overseen by the Caritas Foundation for Rehabilitation of Drug Users and the Puttinu Cares Foundation.

The foundation will deliver projects for children and youngsters in underprivileged communities of the first district, which encompasses Valletta, Floriana, Ħamrun, Pieta and parts of Marsa.

Mr Grech said the funds, together with capital raised by Caritas and Puttinu Cares, would make a real difference to those who need it most.

The MP spoke of the “critical social problems” facing the localities, insisting that the concentration of these problems was leading to the marked increase in underprivileged families.

“The pressing problems faced by the youngsters in this district need more active participation and I believe it is our collective duty to focus our efforts and to emancipate everyone. Everyone’s life is valuable and that is why we want to contribute towards saving lives,” he said.

The foundation will partner with NGOs in the locality to focus exclusively on projects aimed at strengthening activity within the community, maximise opportunities for social inclusion and implement pro-active measures to keep youths away from substance abuse and other forms of illicit behaviour.

Citing statistics related to social problems in the area, Mr Grech said Valletta played host to the highest number of drug related offences on the island and that the largest number of prison inmates, 21 per cent, hailed from the first district.

The foundation, which will be enrolling with the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations, will be bound by a full disclosure of its financial statements.