For local councils, residents should come first – PN

In a press conference ahead of the local council elections, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami was joined by Opposition whip David Agius and six of the party’s seven candidates for the locality of Haz-Zebbug.

Fenech Adami lamented the fact that, at the end of a Labour majority council in Zebbug, more attention was paid to internal disagreements than to the needs of residents.

He pointed out how some €30,000 of the council’s funds were spent annually to pay an ex-Labour candidate to organize events in the village, many of which never even materialized. “Funds should be used for the good of the locality,” Fenech Adami said.

He drew comparisons between Zebbug and neighbouring Siggiewi, with its PN-majority council. Several projects had been undertaken, including the resurfacing and maintenance of roads and pavements.

Agius addressed the press, saying that the Nationalist party was offering voters more alternatives, ranging from younger candidates to those with more experience.

He also made reference to the capital funds project – the Nationalist party had expressed concerns about the allocation of funds through the project and requested an investigation from the Auditor General on the matter.

Agius reiterated the party’s position, saying that it disagreed with the distribution of funds and the lack of transparency in the selection process. This opinion, he said, was shared by ten local councils and the national association of local council executive secretaries and the president of the local council association, Marc Sant.

“We feel there should be a more just distribution of these funds,” he said referring to the capital projects fund.

At the inauguration of a Family Park in Hal Farrug yesterday, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said that the choice had been taken by an autonomous board and that those who didn’t agree with the final decision, could appeal this decision.

“The board was run by the local council director, who was appointed by the government, but I was informed about the decision well after it had been made,” Bonnici said.

Bonnici explained that ten localities had appealed the final decision, but that in spite of these appeals, the approved projects would not be taken back whatever the board’s decision about the other projects.

“If the board decides it can add on more projects to the already chosen 30,” Bonnici explained.