Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/449474
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2015 2 JAMES DEBONO OVERALL Labour leader and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat enjoys a 15-point gap over oppo- sition leader Simon Busuttil but the latter enjoys an 11 point lead among respondents with a uni- versity level of education. The devil is in the detail, so it appears Busuttil reconfirms a trend with Nationalist voters, and remains more trusted than Muscat among respondents with a university education, but trails Muscat in all other educational groups. Compared to December 2013 – the last political survey by Malta- Today in which respondents were asked to state their level of educa- tion, Joseph Muscat has seen his approval rating dip among uni- versity and post secondary edu- cated respondents. Among the former Muscat's ap- proval rating (respondents who judge his performance posi- tively) dips by four points while among the latter it dips by five points. But Muscat's approval rating remains intact among voters with a secondary level of education. Among respondents with a primary level of education Muscat registers a four-point increase in his approval rating. In the trust barometer where respondents are given a choice between the two political lead- ers, both Muscat and Busuttil have seen their trust-rating decline by four points. But Busuttil's score has seen a five-point increase in the trust rating among those with a post secondary education (+4.5). Muscat has seen his lead among this category decrease from 10 points to six. The gains among respondents with a secondary level of educa- tion (people who continued their education after the secondary level but did not attend univer- sity) are particularly significant in view of the fact that these re- spondents formed one of the stra- tegic categories, which shifted towards the PL before the 2013 general election. Busuttil's gains among this sector tally with gains he made among switchers when compared to November. The situation remains static among respondents with a sec- ondary education, both as regards the PM's approval rating and the trust barometer. The educational divide may also ref lect the social class com- position of the two rival political blocks. News University educated more likely to trust neither leader, Busuttil scores small gains among respondents who received continued post secondary level without going to university Carabinieri hunting Maltese poachers in Sicily MAT THEW VELLA ITALIAN police are searching for three Maltese men in con- nection with the illegal hunting of a protected Eurasian Crane (Graw wa) in Sicily, the Commit- tee Against Bird Slaughter said yesterday. The incident was observed by a hunting guard on 17 December, 2014, at around 10:30 am in the Pantano Cuba wetlands, in the south-east corner of Sicily. The hunting guard was on a routine patrol when he saw the men firing shots at the passing bird, CABS said. She immediate- ly informed the Carabinieri and tried to detain the three men un- til the arrival of the officers. "Unfortunately the poachers managed to escape in a small white car. At least two of them were carrying shotguns. The men spoke Maltese and used a small white car with Maltese registration plates," CABS press officer Axel Hirschfeld said. The Carabinieri of the town of Ragusa are investigating the case. CABS said that it has passed on the plate registration number of the car to the ALE for possible further investigations in Malta. Common Cranes are a strictly protected species which may not be hunted either in Italy or in Malta. The Pantano Cuba wetlands are a protected Natura 2000 site with international im- portance for migrating water- birds. In 2014 large parts of the wetland were bought by CABS partner Stiftung Pro Artenviel- falt (Foundation pro Biodiver- sity) which also supports CABS operations in Malta and Gozo. Committee Against Bird Slaughter says hunting guards and Carabinieri in Ragusa investigating sighting of Maltese poachers Pioneer in foster care to help out in setting up fostering agency MIRIAM DALLI A "calm and fruitful meeting" was held between Family Minister Michael Farrugia and civil servant John Rolé yesterday after news broke out that Rolé had been transferred by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS). The transfer provoked concern at what was considered a poor decision which would adversely affect the fos- tering services – Rolé was considered a highly experienced professional in his field. A spokeswoman for the minister confirmed that Rolé will retain his post as head of Appogg's foster care team for the time being. He will also be assigned a number of people whom he will train. "The Labour government has also pledged to set up an agency focus- ing on foster care. Mr Rolé has been offered the choice to form part of a team responsible for setting up a fostering agency. He has accepted," the spokeswoman said, adding that Rolé's valuable experience could not be lost. She added that the minister was currently approaching a number of individuals who would form part of this team. Describing the meeting as calm, the minister's spokeswoman said Rolé was very keen to continue working in the sector. It is understood that a decision to transfer Rolé was taken from within the agency. "When the ministry got to know of what had happened, the minister insisted that Rolé's knowl- edge of the sector was too valuable to be lost," she said. Rolé has been part of Appogg's fos- ter care team for the past 19 years. Before that he worked as a carer at the St Patrick's care home. Sources told MaltaToday that the authorities had been looking "at start- ing things afresh" and a call for appli- cations to fill the post was issued. News of the transfer had left both colleagues and foster carers baffled at the decision, with a number of parents expressing concern over "the loss" to the fostering service at Ap- pogg. Relaying calls by foster parents, Rolé had also pushed for a review of the fostering law to give children's voice more weight. An online petition on Facebook called on the minister and Appogg to reassign Rolé back to the fostering services. The petition garnered 574 signatures within hours, including that of PN leader Simon Busuttil. "For the past 15 years, John Rolé was responsible for the gradual devel- opment of the fostering services and through his painstaking endeavour hundreds of children found a family to take care of them. "His professionalism together with his immeasurable dedication within and outside office hours earned him the trust of many children, youth and families, knowing that he was always there for them, a point of perma- nence in an otherwise chaotic service structure. The removal of John Rolé is consequently a major setback for the children, youth and families who benefit from the fostering services," the foster carers said. "It is a shame that the responsible authorities are depriving the fostered children and youth and the families that take care of them, of John Role's services." Questioned by journalists before the meeting was held between Rolé and Farrugia, the minister said: "We will be discussing his new role and after this meeting we will be in a position to announce his new post. He will be working in the fostering sector. His vast experience and knowledge of the sector are most valuable." On Monday, the ministry told the media that "the management of FSWS believes that mobility of employees within the foundation is healthy". Asked why Rolé had been trans- ferred, Farrugia simply replied that there was an opportunity for new roles. It is not clear whether the minister's comments came in wake of the public outcry but Farrugia insisted that Rolé would remain involved in fostering. Jason Zerafa, president of the Na- tional Foster Care Association Malta (NFCAM), said Rolé had been there "to perform a mission and not a job", adding that fostering was a part of who he was. Before joining the government agency, Rolé had worked as a carer at the St Patrick's care home. "News of Rolé's transfer from Ap- pogg, where he led the fostering unit, has been met with displeasure from parents who worked close to him and know his serious and dignified ethic," the PN said in a statement. "The work he did was delicate and he carried out his duty without politi- cal interference, with decisions taken only in the children's interest. These are attributes that made Rolé's work the success it was for 19 years. In the last hours, PN leader Simon Busuttil signed a petition insisting upon gov- ernment to save the fostering unit and reappoint John Rolé." The shadow minister for social pol- icy, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, said she was "sad" at the way this decision was taken and called on the government to reverse its decision. mt survey Overall 15-point gap, but Muscat's approval dips among respondents with higher education Between Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil who do you trust most University Change Post Secondary Change Secondary Change Primary Change Joseph Muscat 25.5 -3.8 40.3 1.3 49.8 0.1 53 0.1 Simon Busuttil 36.4 -4.2 33.8 4.5 24 0 22.6 -0.5 None 28.3 4.4 15.5 3.3 17.3 6.5 16.7 6.1 Don't know 9.8 3.6 10.4 -9.1 8.9 -6.6 7.7 -5.7 PM's approval rating among different educational sectors Change University educated 30.9 -3.5 Post Secondary 38.4 -3.1 Secondary 52 -0.6 Primary/no education 55.2 4 All 43.9 -2.5