Street meetings for public consultation on poverty and social exclusion

For three consecutive weeks during the month of July, the government will hold public consultation meetings on poverty and social exclusion in order to hear people's experiences.

The exercise will take the format of a street meeting and will be held in Marsa, The Three Cities, Xghajra, Wied il-Ghajn, Valletta, Gzira, Qawra and Marsalforn.

"We want to hear what the people have to say, for them to explain their issues and problems," Social Policy Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said today.

Coleiro Preca urged the public to come forward and they had nothing to be "embarrassed about".

"It's the policymakers who should feel ashamed about the situation, for allowing the number of persons at risk of poverty line to increase and not decrease," she said, insisting that hearing the reality of people was important for the complete drafting of national policy to combat poverty and social exclusion.

The strategic plan will be drafted by September, in order to mitigate the urgent situation where 21.7% of the Maltese population was at risk of poverty.

The figure increase by 7% in 10 years.

Labour candidate and consultant on government's strategy against poverty Yana Bland Mintoff, said that 86% of the Maltese concede that poverty was an issue which government needed to tackle urgently.

At present, 26% of the Maltese children do not enjoy a decent life while Malta had the highest entry and lowest poverty exit rates from among the EU member states.

For more information, the public is urged to call on 2590 3126, email [email protected] or Facebook page Ninghaqdu kontra l-Faqar