President urges local councils to do their bit for Istrina

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca urged Malta’s local councils to fully participate in Istrina activities during a meeting with mayors and counsellors. Proceeds from Istrina go to the Malta Community Chest Fund, which Coleiro Preca explained is Malta’s only national fund that truly assists Maltese people who find themselves in difficult situations such as illnesses and poverty.

“I have faith that the Maltese people from their respective localities, represented by their local councils, understand the realities of the Malta Community Chest Fund and the need to show solidarity with people in difficult moments such as illnesses,” Coleiro Preca said. “The MCCF is facing realities such as cancer, the treatment of which is very expensive, and it therefore needs more funds.”

She said that she doesn’t want to refuse anyone’s plea for help because of the financial limits of the National Fund.

Parliamentary secretary for local councils Stefan Buontempo and shadow minister for local councils David Agius both promised their full support to the President’s plea. Buontempo said that we need to celebrate solidarity with vulnerable people and that communities feel great satisfaction when they unite in support for one mission. Agius said that people suffering from illnesses such as cancer need both moral and financial support because of the high costs of cancer treatment.