Labour councillors to continue to make a difference

Labour leader Alfred Sant said that, whether in a minority or in a majority, Labour councillors would continue to make a difference by implementing promises and to fulfil their social commitment to offer a better quality of life.

Addressing the media at the launch of the MLP's national manifesto for the March 11 local council elections, Dr Sant said that in the localities where the elections were being held, Labour councillors had implemented 85 per cent of what they had promised while the Nationalist councillors implemented just over half.

Labour councillors would be placing emphasis on issues that were agreed on at Labour's general conference, giving priority to tourism and the environment, he said.

The national manifesto specified that local councils should serve as tools to increase tourist attractions and to embellish tourist zones.

The MLP, he said, supported twinnings between local regions with those in other countries. Initiatives should also be taken to give due attention to our country's natural, historic and cultural heritage.

The MLP wanted every local council to set up committees to ensure local sustainable development.

Among other points, Dr Sant spoke on local council spending, insisting that Labour councillors should ensure that spending should be carried out efficiently and transparently.

Local councils should be at the forefront of the setting up of independent surveillance boards to ensure that the operation of waste recycling plants was carried out in an acceptable way.

The manifesto, he added, placed great emphasis on the aspect of social protection. Labour councillors would continue to strengthen their commitment in favour of social centres, day care centres and social as well as cultural and educational activities for youth.

Councillors would continue to organise courses in languages, especially in Maltese and English, specific teaching to address illiteracy and classes to teach information technology.

Dr Sant said that on local wardens, the manifesto insists that these should assume an educational role that led to the observance of laws. It also insisted on full co-ordination between local councils and the workings of the green wardens.

The MLP was committing itself not to allow the collection of taxes in councils with a Labour majority, he added.

Councils with a Labour majority would work to benefit from EU programmes.