Why vote PN

For the March 10 local elections the Nationalist Party will be presenting to the public a group of 121 ladies and gentlemen, coming from all walks of life. They include lawyers, notaries and law students, medical doctors, architects, accountants, businessmen, senior bankers, civil service officials, university lecturers and teachers, company directors, private sector employees, students, youths, self-employed, housewives and also a few pensioners.

These people possess a vast experience as well as great intellectual knowledge. Some of them also shoulder professional responsibilities in their line of work. This group of candidates further enrich the PN in terms of quality and in its endeavours to guarantee serious management in local government.

I regret to say it is quite the opposite in the Labour Party camp where administrative and other problems during certain council meetings are not unknown. In my opinion the responsibility lies with the MLP leadership; only they decide who to accept to represent their party. It all depends whether they want serious and professional people to run local councils, as the PN does.

We have read in newspapers of councils with a Labour majority facing huge problems, even involving the police in one case. We also hear about Labour councils squandering public funds and engaging in partisan politics. We hear of councils refusing to renew the employment contract of employees simply because they are in some way affiliated to the PN as is their right.

We also read about financial deficits incurred by Labour local governments, the inability to follow the correct procedures when awarding tenders, disregard to the Local Councils Act, confusion and situations whereby local wardens issue an excessive number of tickets.

It is the opposite where there is a PN majority; financial results in the great majority of PN-led local councils are positive with that of Gzira leading the PN group and ending the last financial year with a surplus of over Lm32,000.

Voters are urged to use their right to vote and choose responsible and professional people, the like that are found in the PN list of candidates.