Mario Agius, St Julians
Council's care of residents in St Julians project
It is not uncommon for local councils or, more so, mayors to come under severe criticism from the public.
A recent case in point was the St Julians council whose members had unanimously agreed to put forward a suggestion for a multi-storey car park project at Balluta Square.
The residents in this area and others who frequent this square throughout the year, but especially during the summer months, did not like the idea and demanded a meeting with the mayor and local council members.
My opinion is that, here, Peter Bonello, the St Julians mayor, showed real leadership in handling this situation when he accepted to meet the residents and, following their stubborn opposition to the project, persuaded the council to drop the idea and accede to the residents' wishes.
A clear sign that the St Julians mayor and councillors do care, after all, for the residents they represent. And that is the reason why local councils were created in the first place.
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J Martinelli
Dec 8th 2009, 17:31
@ C Cassar
The Mayor's job is to put forward any proposal agreed upon by the majority of the Councillors. He is duty bound to support democratic decisions taken by his Councillors and has nothing to do with being re-elected. Had that been the case of other Councils, many Mayors would be one-timers.
Listening to people and convincing the rest of his colleagues to change their position is a sign of leadership, not weakness and for this alone this Mayor should not worry about his future in the position he holds.
C Cassar
Dec 8th 2009, 13:55
The only reason Peter Bonello climbed down from approving the car park scheme at Balluta was that he would not have been elected next time around. If he cared so much for the residents of St Julians he wouldn't have backed and continually supported the car park plans in the first place.
Adrian E. Camilleri
Dec 8th 2009, 10:35
Prosit, Peter.