Sliema residents ‘dissatisfied’ with Mayor’s attitude

The Sliema Residents Association said Sliema residents were not getting what they voted for and accused the Sliema council of abdicating its political mandate "by shying away and blaming other authorities for the mishaps going on in Sliema, essentially leaving residents to a sad fate."

“If the Council is not willing or unable to function, then the Council should be dissolved and fresh elections held,” the Sliema and Qui-Si-Sana associations said.

The associations were reacting to the Sliema council’s annual general meeting held last week. They claimed that during the meeting, the residents’ points of concern “fell on deaf ears, with petty excuses as to the council’s lack of action.”

They said that when pressed for concrete replies, Mayor Joanna Gonzi said she is not obliged to reply to any of the questions put forward: “This is a shameful admission. The passive, nonchalant attitude of the Mayor to the major issues affecting the residents of the area was shocking.”

The SRA and QTRA added that Gonzi was repeatedly failing to reply to a number of emails sent by SRA. “It appears that Gonzi has turned her back on the residents of Sliema and is happy to sit pretty, serving simply as a mouthpiece for her political masters,” the associations said.

“Joanna Gonzi’s attitude is incompatible with that of Mayor,” they said. “We will remind her that she was elected to represent the residents of the locality and defend their interests against adverse political decisions and not the other way around.”

They claimed that Gonzi “prefers to antagonise residents rather than build bridges.”

“Sliema residents deserve much better than this.  Sliema needs a local council capable of taking care of the safety and quality of life of all Sliema residents,” both associations said. “It is patently obvious that this Council is not delivering what they were voted in for.”