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Kurt Sansone
There are more than 2,100 single mothers receiving State benefits and a breakdown of statistics according to locality reveals another grim picture for the Cottonera area with Isla, Xghajra and Bormla having the highest concentration of unmarried mothers.
The trend emulates that for registered unemployed where the highest concentrations are to be found in the Grand Harbour area.
Statistics for unmarried mothers were presented in Parliament this week by Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina. An analysis of the figures undertaken by MaltaToday reveals that the top 10 localities with the highest concentration of single mothers are to be found in the southern harbour area with the only ‘northern’ localities to make the list being Gzira and St Paul’s Bay.
When the number of single mothers receiving State aid is calculated as a percentage of the locality’s population, Isla and the little village of Xghajra come on top with 1.8 per cent of their residents being unmarried mothers (64 and 14 respectively). Bormla comes third in line with 1.7 per cent (106) and St Paul’s Bay fourth with 1.5 per cent (118).
The other localities with the highest concentration of single mums are Valletta (1.4% - 99), Marsa (1.3% - 66), Birgu (1.3% - 38), Marsaskala (1.1% - 61), Floriana (1.1% - 27) and Gzira (1.1% - 82).
These latest figures reinforce the bleak situation in the less affluent Grand Harbour areas, which are also dogged by high unemployment.
A similar statistical analysis was conducted by this newspaper for unemployment figures in January this year and it is not by coincidence that eight of the localities featured in the top 10 list for single mothers were also in the list for the highest concentration of unemployed.
Xghajra, Bormla, Valletta, Isla, Marsa, Birgu, St Paul’s Bay and Marsaskala are among the localities with the highest concentration of unemployed and single mothers.
Statistics reveal that economic and social poverty do have a colour and it is red. Labour-leaning localities around the Grand Harbour area and in the south of the island have higher concentrations of social problems.
Of particular interest is St Paul’s Bay, which also includes Bugibba, where the availability of apartments with cheaper rents may be a catalyst for attracting lower income earners.
The unemployment and single mother statistics can also be viewed in relation to the number of students that join Junior College. An analysis of Junior College admissions conducted by MaltaToday for the year 2003 had revealed that the localities with the lowest concentration of Junior College students included Bormla, Birgu, Valletta, Marsa, Isla and Xghajra.
kurt@newsworksltd.com
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