Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1501361
NEWS 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 JUNE 2023 Government applied to demolish Bormla elderly home four months ago Domestic violence commissioner resigns JAMES DEBONO GOVERNMENT has officially submitted its plans to demolish and rebuild the Bormla residen- tial home for the elderly. The application filed with the Planning Authority specifies that the new home will have the same number of floors and volume as the existing build- ing. It will retain the same use as well. The application which was published on the PA's website in the past days was originally presented on 7 February 2023 before protests by elderly resi- dents objecting to their remov- al from the home. The application was present- ed by Dr Renzo Degabriele the CEO of Active Ageing and Community Care, the govern- ment directorate responsible for residential care. The home, which is run as a public-private partnership with Care Malta, can accom- modate up to 136 residents and currently hosts about 120. In May, residents had hung bedsheets with messages such as "we are not leaving here" and "the elderly are not disposable" after being informed they will be relocated to another home pending the reconstruction. Active Ageing Minister Jo Etienne Abela had said that the government must rebuild parts of the home because low-qual- ity concrete had been used when it was originally built. Abela had also confirmed that elderly residents will be relo- cated to alternative facilities. The residents were given dif- ferent options in the south of the island to choose where they want to go. The Nationalist Party had also called for an inquiry, say- ing one is needed to determine the real state of the home. The PN criticised the government for its lack of transparency on the issue, accusing it of keep- ing this decision secret until it was exposed. The Opposition also accused the government of failing to provide an official report or plan to support the demolition. The home for the elderly in Bormla is run as a public- private partnership with Care Malta and can accommodate up to 136 residents KARL AZZOPARDI AUDREY Friggieri has resigned from her role as Commissioner on Gender Based Violence and Domestic Violence, giving no reason for the decision. Friggieri was appointed commission- er in February 2020, a week after the brutal murder of 34-year-old Chantelle Chetcuti, a mother of two, by her for- mer partner. She had replaced Simone Cini who al- so resigned from the post. When contacted Friggieri refused to comment. Replying to questions by this newspa- per, Parliamentary Secretary for Equal- ity Rebecca Buttigieg said Friggieri de- cided to stepdown as the commission needs "new energy to continue growing and address contemporary realities." "The selection process is underway, and a suitable candidate will be ap- pointed to fulfil the important and stipulated responsibilities," she said, joining Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri in expressing appreciation to- wards Friggieri's work. But the resignation has raised concern. The Nationalist Party said it expect- ed the government to explain what is happening at the office of the domestic violence commissioner in the wake of Friggieri's resignation. PN spokespersons Graziella Attard Previ, Claudette Buttigieg and Joe Giglio said the resignation comes months af- ter a public inquiry into the murder of Bernice Cassar found that the State had failed the victim. "Domestic violence is a social blight that requires concrete solutions and strong institutions. The PN expects the ministry and the parliamentary secre- tary to explain what is happening at the commission," the spokespersons said. Additional reporting Kurt Sansone Audrey Friggieri (Photo: James Bianchi/Mediatoday) Application filed with the Planning Authority specifies that the new home will have the same number of f loors and volume as the existing building and will retain the same use