Fake volunteers in the Municipality of Ragusa, the Democratic Party reveals the letter of a former operator who was a victim of the system.

The city secretariat of the Democratic Party of Ragusa announces that it has received, in the hours following the city council meeting held yesterday, a letter from a former volunteer who previously served in municipal facilities and who attended the proceedings of the chamber.

The author of the letter requested to remain anonymous, a request that the city secretariat deemed necessary to respect, while authorizing the public dissemination of the content of his testimony. These are words that we believe deserve attention because they recount, from the perspective of someone who directly experienced that situation, the atmosphere and consequences of a system that for years has relied on the work of so-called volunteers to ensure essential public services.

Below is the full text of the letter:

"I followed the city council meeting and I am sincerely bitter. I did not expect any great mea culpa from the mayor, but it would have been dignified if he at least responded to the numerous and precise questions posed by the city councilors.

He wasted his breath and our time praising his past as an athlete, but evidently he must not have grasped what the true values of sports are if, following what emerged, he still has the courage to praise the conduct of his administration and, consequently, his own.

They have patched things up everywhere, they are squeezing the municipal employees to the extreme, asking for sacrifices from people often afflicted by health problems who would need help like that which has so far been provided by the "volunteers". Now, instead, they are asked for more, for the love of the city of Ragusa. While the mayor and the councilors remain comfortably seated in their chairs, they ask with a pitiful demeanor for a hand and understanding (under the threat of a service order) from those who would need a hand in turn.

They have exploited dozens of people for years, but it seems that for the mayor the problem was simply relegated to the opening of cultural and sports sites, while the dignity of those who have been exploited has taken a back seat.

Not to mention the ridiculous statement made by the first citizen when he proudly claimed that the associations of Ragusa can enjoy the sports facilities for free. Sure, at the expense of underpaid people subjected to a sick and corrupt system.

They continue to reduce the Municipal Library to a mere parking lot. The mayor is not aware that in the past, when the library's opening hours were extended, there was a significant influx. Of course, because their "great opening" consisted solely of making the study room available. It was not possible to borrow a book, nor to access the Soffiasogno space. So, one place is as good as another; the "library" is not needed.

As important as the study room is (at times suitable for students' needs and not for a scant three hours twice a week), a library is not an empty box. It should welcome students, young people, adults, and the elderly indiscriminately, actively engaging the community through countless services that the city of Ragusa refuses to provide. As if culture were not of fundamental importance for the survival and growth of our city.

The Municipal Library should be the beating heart of any city; it should be an inclusive place that guarantees every single citizen the opportunity to know. Because it is only through knowing and studying that one can fight a corrupt system like the one that has taken root in our municipality.

They should uphold what they said, truly take on their responsibilities, and those in charge should resign. They should demonstrate through actions how much respect they have for the city of Ragusa.

The city secretariat of the Democratic Party believes that these words represent a significant and painful testimony that deserves to be heard without superficiality. Behind the story of the so-called volunteers are not just administrative problems, but personal stories, expectations, and dignity that cannot be dismissed lightly.

For this reason, we will continue to demand clarity, responsibility, and concrete solutions in the interest of the city and all the people who have guaranteed essential public services for Ragusa over the years.