Local councils representation

I refer to Jimmy Magro's letter entitled Undemocratic Situation (May 1) and, although I agree that changes should be made to the election procedure of the Local Councils Association, I cannot agree with his insinuations about my party's democratic credentials.

Alfred Sant addressed the Socialist Group in Brussels and mentioned that the association should be better represented by the Labour Party, since it has a clear majority. As president of the College of Councillors within the Nationalist Party, I agree with Dr Sant and this is the position that I have taken together with my colleagues.

Mr Magro mentioned that discussions were held between the parties on changes that have to take place within the association, however, they were discontinued by the Labour Party themselves. The MLP has in hand suggestions for amendments to the law regulating the association and the government is waiting for a clear reply. Is the MLP in agreement or not? The government does not need nor have the time to decipher any messages that may come from the Opposition in order to see whether they agree or otherwise. If they agree, then a simple indication of agreement would suffice. If there is lack of agreement, then the Opposition should suggest amendments and discussions may get underway. However, the Labour Party have no right to play victim in this saga; they have manoeuvred the situation themselves in such a way, since their priority is clearly not the association.

With reference to Dr Sant's speech to the Socialist Group of the Committee of Regions, that Mr Magro refers to, he could have reminded Dr Sant himself that when he was general secretary of the Labour Party, he believed, together with his leader, as a matter of principle, that political parties in Malta should not participate in local council elections. Dr Sant failed to mention that, if it were for him, political parties would not have formed part of any political group, since he did not want parties to participate in local politics.

Dr Sant also failed to mention to the Socialist Group that he headed a government that starved local councils of funds and reduced drastically their only source of income.

Dr Sant is no friend of local councils and his interest in controlling the Local Councils Association is to have another tool with which to attack the government, as has taken place with individual local councils which have a Labour majority.

It is strange how Mr Magro is attacking the PN on its democratic credentials, when it was the Labour Party which used democratic means to oust him from the party's administration, but also blocked his candidature to the European Party. Experience has shown him that democracy may be a dangerous tool if left in the wrong hands.

However, I must emphasis that the association should have an MLP majority as soon as possible and hopefully we can proceed with changes to the election procedure.