Association wants action from Sliema local council

The prevailing situation within the Sliema local council was barring it from working effectively and urgent issues were not being tackled, according to the Sliema Residents Association.

It said that apart from the precarious traffic situation, air pollution and unsustainable overdevelopment, Sliema residents had been airing their concerns in the media, complaining about the council’s inertia.

Residents’ complaints included the dirty state of pavements and roads in general, the unruly and uncivilised behaviour of English language students, the lack of a government-run home for the elderly and the inadequate collection of refuse.

The association said it firmly believed elected council members had to keep in mind that the responsibilities, duties and interest of councillors should be towards Sliema residents and their town and not the party they represent.

The situation within the council has been uncertain for the past few months, since an investigation was launched by the Internal Audit Investigations Department over alleged mismanagement of funds.

A PN-instigated motion of no-confidence in Nationalist mayor Nikki Dimech, who has admitted to the police he had asked for a commission from a contractor, has been postponed till the end of the month, leaving the council in limbo.