Nationalist Party leadership contender John Dalli yesterday told party councillors in Cospicua that with their support he could become the next PN leader.
He would improve the economy and this would lead to more employment in the Cottonera area.
Mr Dalli said he wanted to find out what was keeping the people of Cottonera from getting jobs and if this were due to prejudice, it had to be fought.
Although Cottonera was a Labour stronghold, it was a Nationalist government that had always embarked on projects there. Both tourism and the value of property were on the rise, he added.
The party's sectional offices had to be involved in party work and had to be better prepared politically.
Mr Dalli described the Cottonera area as close to his heart because it was the front line of resistance against the "anti-democratic attitude of our political adversaries".