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ELSA, the European Law Students Association refers to a news article that appeared in MaltaToday regarding an accident at the Ta’ Sbejha holiday complex in Gozo.
The balcony fell because there were obvious defects in construction. Mr Cefai one of the proprietots has been reported as saying that there must have been a lot of people pushing the balcony. Nothing is further from the truth! At the time of the accident, there were two students on the balcony and these were not behaving improperly.
Mr Cefai has been reported as making various allegations, which, though not relevant to the incident, are false and tend to portray us in a bad light. For example there is the issue about the swimming in the pool. No one from our group swam in January, particularly since the event has always been held in December, and anyway, how can the fact that students decide to swim in a pool on a sunny day have anything to do with a balcony falling? Upon our arrival the caretaker of Ta’ Sbejha informed us that although there were some leaves in the pool, it was safe to swim, therefore they did not deplore anyone swimming: only now do they consider the act of swimming as being a sign of an unsound mind.
With regard to the allegation that ELSA ‘…even give them [the delegates] two condoms in their lunch pack’, we would like to point out that ELSA has always shunned the idea of associating itself with condoms at our events.
The comment made about burnt spoons and substances found on sheets are also derogatory. ELSA shuns without reservation the use of drugs. Accordingly ELSA will take immediate and clear action against any member who is found in possession of drugs.
Mr Cefai states that although he was not there he knows exactly what happened, and they did not discuss the price of the balcony. The facts are however otherwise. The occupiers of the room in question hold that the caretaker on a number of occasions informed them that they would have to dig in their pockets and foot the bill. Insinuations were also made that they had pushed Cheryl themselves.
I recall a very interesting conversation with the caretaker of Ta’ Sbejha on the Saturday afternoon, a couple of hours prior to the accident. He told me that he came to visit the complex in the morning and was impressed at how clean the whole complex had been kept. He could not believe that 130 young people were residing there. The complex was in fact left by us in a very good condition. I fail to understand how within a couple of hours of our conversation, due to the balcony giving way, we turned into the animals described in the article.
The article was truthful in saying that that a couple of years ago a balcony had collapsed in this same complex. On that occasion no one was injured. Yet this time round 2 students were injured. It could have been much worse but thankfully they should recover. The management of the complex should seriously review the safety at the complex, if not for the sake of their guests, at least for their own peace of mind.
John Ellul Sullivan
President, ELSA Malta
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