Updated | Last refurbishment works at SVPR’s kitchen 20 years ago

Speaker for the Elderly Mario Galea, former Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community, said that the shocking state of the kitchens at St Vincent de Paule Residence was a ploy to have the facility transferred to the private sector.

Earlier this week Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly Justyne Caruana invited journalists to the residence’s kitchen facilities, revealing a horrendous state of affairs.

In a statement, Galea questioned why the kitchens were left in such a state, a year and four months after the elections, if the government was so unsatisfied by the situation left behind by the previous administration.

Galea recalled that in February, Caruana had announced a new menu for the residence, complete with an information booklet. The decision to hire a private operator to manage the residents’ meals made that plan redundant.

Galea said the recent visit by the press was preceded by a coordinated effort to make the kitchens look neglected, with workers being pulled away from their cleaning duties to an administrative meeting and kitchen equipment being moved around to make it look disorganized and dirty.

“The government does not seem to realize that it was elected over a year ago and now cannot blame the previous administration,” the statement read.

“What was also omitted was the fact that the Grade F hygiene certificate was given during the Labour administration – it had a much higher rating during the previous legislature."

Galea said that the PN thanked all the employees working in the kitchens, dining room and stores at the Residence, adding that they had always give the best service to residents and staff.

“Perhaps the government should focus less on its propaganda and more on the kitchen workers who are now wondering what will become of them.”

But in a reaction, the parliamentary secretariat for the elderly said the last refurbishment works on the residence’s kitchen were carried out 20 years ago, according to a plaque hanging in the kitchen.

“Instead of welcoming improvements to the services offered to the residents, the Opposition is criticising the government’s choice to build a new kitchen,” the government said.

It said that the appalling state the kitchen was left in was the result of previous administrations that did not take the necessary decisions. According to research carried out by the Institute of Tourism Studies, the kitchen endured “decades of neglect”.

According to the parliamentary secretariat, workers themselves repeatedly heard reports of imminent closing down of the kitchen due to safety issues.

“This administration is committed to honour its pledges with the elderly and improve services and infrastructure offered, including refurbishment of existing wards and building new ones,” the parliamentary secretariat said.

The new menu will remain in place after the expiry of the temporary six-month contract in order to allow the parliamentary secretariat to award the new tender leading to the development of a new kitchen.

The government reassured that no jobs will be lost.