Fake volunteers affair in Ragusa, the Five Stars: "Cassì and his Junta should resign en masse"

"There is only one word that Mayor Cassì and his administration should utter: resignations."

This is the sharp criticism from Najla Hassen, the city representative of M5S di Ragusa, regarding the controversial issue of the "volunteers".

"Reading phrases like 'for our convenience, we have turned a blind eye to some things, now it can no longer be like that' or 'as long as things were going well and no one pointed anything out, we moved forward, today times have changed' is disconcerting. These statements reveal a paradox: the victim becomes guilty and the Administration absolves itself, claiming to have 'turned a blind eye' only to help the workers," continues the five-star representative.

"We, on the contrary, strongly reiterate that the blame does not lie with those who need to put food on the table, but with a distorted system that this Administration has fostered, exploiting the state of necessity of the people."

Also in the crosshairs is Councilor Digrandi: "The statements of Councilor Digrandi, who claims to not be aware of the facts, appear blatantly implausible. Anyone who intends to govern the city or run for re-election cannot use lies to cover their mistakes; instead, they should have the courage to admit them and resign."

Hassen then calls attention to the budget choices of the Palazzo: "It is important for the citizens of Ragusa to remember that this Administration has found the resources to double the salaries of the Mayor and the Council and to pay external experts in the fields of culture and tourism. Yet, when it comes to keeping the museums, sports facilities, and cultural structures open, they rely solely on volunteering."

Nor can the reference to the Public-Private Partnership for the management of the Castello di Donnafugata be used as an excuse: "It was not an attempt to protect the workers with a dignified classification, but it was an attempt of another nature that presented clear irregularities."

From here comes the request for a change of course: “The Administration has the duty to find the funds to hire and adequately pay the necessary staff. If the resources are not available, then both the Council and external experts should serve for free, returning their fees to the municipal coffers. The money must be there for everyone, through a fair redistribution of city resources; otherwise, it is just opportunism benefiting a few privileged individuals.”

The conclusion is a jab: “How many other issues, which perhaps have not yet emerged, have seen this Administration operate in this way? It is really better for Cassì and his team to step aside, once and for all.”