Eden Foundation parents raise questions on merger

The Parents’ Association of the Eden Foundation this morning reiterated its disapproval at the way the foundation had merged with Razzett tal-Ħbiberija.

Josie Muscat, speaking at a press conference this morning, strongly criticised the remaining three trustees of the Eden Foundation for not having met the association and called for their resignation, saying the association itself was prepared to take over the running of the foundation in association with the government.

Dr Muscat demanded explanations over how the funds of the Eden Foundation were being used, asking, in particular, whether the salaries of the employees of Razzett had been paid from Eden funds. He also asked how the administration of the Eden Foundation had been taken over almost totally by Razzett.

Dr Muscat said that in view of the fact that Eden had received public funds, the association was calling on the authorities and the Auditor-General to insist on the publication of the audited accounts of Eden and Razzett up to the end of 2008. He said it also needed to be ascertained that public funds given to the Eden Foundation for services bought by the government were used for this purpose.

The Eden Foundation, he said, had ‘lost its soul’ and services had deteriorated. The parents wanted to restore the foundation to the educational force it had been for people with disabilities.