A steadfast mayor

If I wore a hat, I'd take it off to salute the mayor of Birzebbuga for the courage he is showing, fighting a lonely battle, against a committee composed of representatives of six other local councils - a cartel.

The people of Birzebbuga elected Joseph Farrugia in a democratic election and others were elected to form a local council in that locality. It is very strange and undemocratic for other people to form a committee from six other localities and impose something on others when these people are against what is being imposed. To me, this is how a perfect cartel works.

I once said that if I were the mayor of St Julians it would have been over my dead body to allow anyone to remove something I installed a day before.

Last August I publicly questioned the Local Councils Association, of which Ian Micallef is president, as to whether local councils need an association and also whether this association holds in its fold Nationalist councils only.

Dr Micallef replied saying the association is set up by law and represents the general interests of all local councils. I do not know what these general interests are but I am sure that if I ask Dr Micallef will oblige.

What I found strange in the article published by The Times is where it was reported that Mr Farrugia will resign from the Labour Party if a decision is taken by the Zurrieq Joint Committee. I am confused.

Am I wrong in asking that besides the association there are also joint committees? Are these committees also established by law? If the answer is yes, then why are people asked to vote for their preferred candidates when their decisions are ignored and other decisions from outside are imposed? What a farce!

Going back to what Mr Farrugia is reported to have said, that he will resign from the MLP, I ask: Why? Is the MLP part of this game?

I live far from Birzebbuga but I am often there on Sunday afternoons and I find nothing wrong with the town. I don't know what bothered Dr Micallef with regard to boats he saw there. Or could it be that the time is approaching for boat owners to experience what others went through elsewhere?

One last thing about becoming a banana republic. If it happens that a car is illegally parked or a boat is in an unauthorised place or a driver is not wearing a seat belt does that make us a banana republic?

Do you know when in these republics the laws of the land are thrown to the dogs? It is between May and October each year during the festa season, when legal parking spaces and pavements are cluttered with tables and chairs, when roads are narrowed to accommodate bar and restaurant owners, when loud bangs can be heard day in day out.

Also, parking places are taken over for other activities, for several weeks. Roads are closed all over the place and, after that, the vultures come for their work!