Economist enters contest for Labour general secretary

Economist and management consultant Joe Vella Bonnici has announced he will be running for the post of MLP general secretary in the election of administration officials to be held on August 4 and 5.

His campaign slogan is Unity, Enthusiasm, Seriousness.

Mr Vella Bonnici said yesterday he had detected a new hope among Labourites following the election of a new leadership. The work being done by the party's leaders should now be assisted by an efficient and serious administration and his experience in this area would help.

Mr Vella Bonnici said he would strive to give the administration's full support to everyone who wanted to help the party. Wherever he worked, be it in the public or private sector, he always kept his door open.

The party, he said, belonged to members and it was members who had to give it life. Local centres and party branches had become the engine of the party once again. The administration should support and direct and not try to do everything itself.

He said democracy deserved a strong Labour Party that would be capable of administering the country. All Labourites had to be persuaded of their principles and values, proud of their past and confident of the future.

Following the hotly-contested posts of party leader and deputy leaders, the election of the party general secretary is shaping up to be another keenly-fought battle.

The incumbent, Jason Micallef, has already confirmed his intention to contest, as has Maltastar's editorial consultant Alfred Grixti, who had lost the previous election to Mr Micallef.

When contacted yesterday, former party candidate Joe Chetcuti, of Mosta, confirmed he is in the running too.

Another person interested in the post is Fgura mayor Darren Marmarà, although he said his decision on whether or not to contest depended on the other names in the race. "If I see that someone has more potential I will make way. If I have the most potential I will contest. But to have eight people contesting makes no sense," he said.

Another name being mentioned is that of lawyer Keith Grech, a former deputy mayor of Ta' Xbiex and former St Paul's Bay local councillor. He would not confirm or deny his interest in the post when contacted, saying only that his was one of the names being touted.