The council residents deserve

Swieqi will have a new local council next month. The Nationalist Party has a record 14 candidates. Even if all the three candidates of the other parties were elected, the PN is guaranteed a majority.

When I visit families to introduce my other 13 colleagues, I hear all sorts of groans. Four-fifths of the issues they raise do not fall under the local council's responsibilities!

"I will not vote" is a common statement! Whether these residents vote or not, the PN will still have the majority of councillors. Therefore, the best way "to protest" is to vote for the candidates of their choice. They have 14 PN candidates to choose from. All are very enthusiastic and determined to make a difference. The list includes experience, enthusiasm, energy, ideas and, why not, dreamers.

The PN candidates include three incumbents, five experienced councillors who had already served on the council more than once, and six new names. Unfortunately, the new council lost the services of two experienced councillors, Tony Barbaro Sant, an expert media person by profession, and the energetic and resourceful Kurt Vella Fondè. Neither will be contesting. The council needs them for continuity after their fruitful term.

Our locality lacks identity. This is because the authorities divided the locality into three distinct parts. The first council did its best to obtain autonomy for Madliena. This area is legally classified as a hamlet but not so Ibrag. We have a unique situation where two hamlets together are bigger than the core city itself!

The budget of Swieqi local council is disadvantaged because Madliena has a very low population density and, as such, absorbs a disproportionate part of our budget. This zone needs improvement in basic infrastructure. The funds must come from the central government. How can a town of nearly 6,000 voters be managed without a single school hall or civic centre? This year even the summer school could not be organised due to lack of funds. This in spite of the fact that Swieqi covers an area two and a half times that of Sliema.

The business community can also help - and benefit - by getting involved directly. The council has to organise activities to boost our business outlets. Why not having our own Magic Night? The two local banks will definitely be ready to support such Swieqi council activities. Until we have our long-promised civic centre, they can start by sponsoring a big tent which our community needs for regular cultural and social activities aimed at youths and senior citizens. The council must work in synergy with the parish council. We need a communication channel and a community radio would help.

We also need protection from the abuse by irresponsible building contractors who have turned a fairly peaceful residential area into a "Beirut zone." Foreigners working on construction sites must show more respect to our Christian community.

Construction and work on building sites must not be allowed on Sundays. The noise of rock cutting machines and concrete mixers as early as six in the morning is not the best way to praise the Lord on the day of rest. The much-awaited traffic management scheme must be finalised with the consent of the residents. It is impossible to please everybody but we must try to bring together the three previous mayors who had all carried out scientific studies and came up with three different suggestions. The new council must ask them to join in the think tank.

Some one-way streets will be necessary but these must be part of a general plan that should include proper entrances and exits. Top priority must be given to the Swieqi Road "death-trap bridge". We must divert traffic out of town and not entice drivers to use Swieqi as a short cut to San Gwann and Paceville.

Many query the need or otherwise of so many sleeping policemen concentrated in one short stretch when there are none in other black spots. What is the purpose of bringing traffic to a halt when going uphill?

Wardens in Swieqi must change their roles from entrapment of residents and focus on curtailing outsiders from using Swieqi as a free parking zone.

It is my duty to remind the Swieqi, Ibrag and Madliena residents that they have the chance to choose the council they deserve. Voting on March 10 is a show of thanks to our mayor and the other six councillors who, for the last three years, unselfishly sacrificed their lives for the interest of all of us. Having served on the first two councils I know that a "thank you" goes a long way.

Mr Fenech is a PN candidate for Swieqi.