Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/979340
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 2018 News 7 liberals in his party and those who actually benefit from the exploitation of cheap foreign labour? Delia is right in speaking on issues like migration, which have an impact on commu- nities, but does he have the depth to do so in a way, which does not pander to prejudice and which may alienate the middle ground? Delia may also be right in recognising that the PN con- tains a large conservative constituency which yearns for representation but would this leave space for PN voters who do not believe that a zygote is human person? And why is Delia so silent on environmental issues like the proposed 37-storey high rise in Pembroke where he can champion the cause of the common people against a very real establishment? But while Delia's political programme remains a works in progress, his anti-elitism is mostly directed at what he perceives as the establishment in his party. Ironically it was Busuttil who more than any other PN leader before him, took on the country's real establish- ment by lashing at corruption, environmental destruction and occasionally big business groups while embracing civil liberties which were an anath- ema for the PN. Yet this only served to ex- pose the party's internal contradictions. For example, when he broke with tradition by attacking Silvio Debono's DB group for its Pembroke land grab, he ended up being exposed for accepting money from the same group. Moreover, his divisive style strengthened the impres- sion that his motivation was driven by resentment against Labour being in power and against big business for em- bracing Labour, and not the moral question per se. His promise of a Labour proof government was seen by voters as a sign of the PN's sense of entitlement. It is the same sense of entitlement which cripples the anti-Delia camp in the PN. Yet to quell internal dissent Delia still has to prove him- self as a leader with a vision which can unite and inspire. So far, he has not impressed. elitism card? MASSIMO COSTA PARENTS who are making use of the government's free child care scheme, which was started in 2014, will not incur any pen- alties if their children are absent for 25% or less of the time they are booked in for at the centres. Replying to a parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this meant that children could be absent, for whatever reason, for a maxi- mum of three months with no penalty charges incurred by the parents. "I am informed that such a generous system, which facilitates things for parents in such a way, does not exist in any other country," Bartolo said. While parents have to be in employment or pursuing their education in order to be eligible for the free child care service, those who are not working but are following a Jobsplus course are offered a subsidy on child care charges, Bartolo said. The subsidy, which amount to €1.50 per hour, is meant to of- fer an incentive to parents to improve their work prospects. mcosta@mediatoday.com.mt Subsidised childcare for unemployed parents undergoing training No penalties if children are absent from child care centres for three months or less