Parliamentary Secretary Justyne Caruana has taken umbrage at comments by Msida mayor Margaret Baldacchino Cefai, who complained that waste collection and public cleansing near apartments rented by Gozitan students was becoming a problem.

“There is a community of [Gozitan students] and other people who work at Mater Dei Hospital and this is creating a problem due to the waste they leave behind them,” the mayor said, urging the government for more support.

She was abruptly interrupted by Dr Caruana, who is Gozitan. From the other side of the table, she said: “[Gozitans] keep the economy going.”

A visibly shaken Ms Baldacchino Cefai said that she had not meant to single out Gozitans, but she added that she was obliged to flag complaints lodged by Msida residents.