Alternattiva Demokratika are proposing to hold English-language schools liable for damage caused by nuisance students who are lodged in large numbers in residences.
Yesterday, AD chairperson Harry Vassallo said the schools, which host thousands of students every year for the purpose of studying English, should have an insurance policy for the students they host.
“Businesses should be held responsible for (students’) actions during their stay and provide adequate insurance for any damage they cause. All stakeholders should be consulted to identify the most effective means to reduce negative impacts.”
Vassallo made particular reference to students lodged en masse in residences. Many host families have since moved out of the business of hosting students after they were held taxable for their activities last year.
“Language schools and the residences where language students are lodged in large numbers have caused considerable nuisance to their neighbours for several years. This is a serious cost which must be accounted for. Those profiting from this sector of the tourism industry must be warned that they can be asked to pay for it,” Vassallo said, addressing a press conference in Swieqi.
“It is unacceptable that in order for some persons to make a profit or even to have employment, others must suffer the costs.”
AD’s spokesperson on economic affairs and tourism added that residents in Sliema, St Julian’s and Swieqi had been exposed to heavy negative impacts, and called for more effective policing. “Local councils must be given a greater budget for more monitoring of these areas from wardens,” Edward Fenech said.
The Green Party said it would meet with all parties concerned over the issue of mitigating the negative effect of English-language study tourism.
It said every language student should be warned that past misbehaviour has necessitated a special enforcement effort, and that police should maintain a watch in the hardest hit areas “with a zero tolerance mandate”.
“If this proves ineffective, plans should be made for the establishment of a specific wrden service to be financed by this sector of the industry,” Fenech said.
Harry Vassallo also said all complaints made to the police and offences documented by them should be reported each month to the local council and published in the local council website, indicating those known or strongly suspected to have been committed by language school students. “This documentation should be extended to all localities to allow residents a clear idea of the state of affairs in their locality and to monitor trends and the effectiveness of policing efforts in general.”
AD also said an evaluation exercise should be immediately embarked upon to establish direct and indirect costs, and returns, from the English-language study sector to assess whether its negative impacts can be drastically reduced or whether it should be actively discouraged.
The party said tourism should be managed via the “polluter-pays” principle.