Local council slams government for not consulting them over independence celebrations

The Valletta local council is ‘disappointed’ with the government for not consulting them about the planning and logistics behind this weekend’s celebration programme to commemorate Malta’s 50th independence anniversary.

“A large part of this programme will directly affect Valletta residents and people entering Valletta to celebrate,” a local council statement said. “It will require a change in Valletta’s traffic system. Logic would tell you that the organisers should have consulted with us.”

“However, the government chose to ignore the Valletta local council, so much so that we weren’t even invited to Wednesday’s coordination meeting,”

“This is not the first time that this government has organised events in Valletta without consulting us,” the local council went on. “This is not the way a government that says it believes in consultation with local councils should behave.”

“We can’t understand why the government is going down this road and we encourage whoever is responsible to put national interest ahead of political passion in the best interest of the people," the local council said. "Above all, is this event is about national unity, then the government should have involved us to ensure that this event is a national one without any political colours.”