MP implies ethnic reasons in Safi road closure decisions
Labour MP Joseph M. Sammut has implied that ethnic reasons were behind a decision by Safi council to close two roads leading to Zurrieq.
In a parliamentary question yesterday, Dr Sammut asked the Prime Minister whether it was the policy of local councils to practice an ethnic policy which prohibited the residents of neighbouring villages from using roads of specific villages. If in the negative, Dr Sammut asked why the Mayor of Safi was being allowed to hold this policy as shown by his decision to close Zurrieq Road from the Zurrieq end and St Paul Street in the direction of Zurrieq, with the intention of preventing the people of Zurrieq from driving through Safi to reach their homes.
Replying, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that neither the government, nor the councils followed any type of ethnic policy which discriminated between the people, and he was sure the Labour MP knew this.
Dr Gonzi said there were various reasons for the road closures, which had nothing to do with the insinuations of ethnic policies made by Dr Sammut.
Zurrieq Road was made one way a few years ago in view of traffic management problems involving buses and parking. When the road was two-way, cars had to be driven on the pavement. This posed a danger to pedestrians, while the council had to repair the damage caused to the pavement by the cars. There were alternatives to this road, Dr Gonzi said.
St Paul Street was made one way to reduce traffic flow in the heart of Safi, reducing harmful emissions. Furthermore, irresponsible drivers in the dead of night had been damaging properties.
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alfred curmi
Sep 30th 2010, 14:24
Rather than criticising the Safi mayor, Dr Sammut should have COMMENDED his action as it seeks to protect the lives of people, especially CHILDREN, using the centre of the village.
The new rules allow only residents of St Paul Str to use that road: therefore, if there is discrimination, it is also levelled at other Safi residents as well.
Before that, most people drove up St Paul Str to the village square (where all social activities are located) and on to Zurrieq Rd. Now, all they have to do is effect two 90-degree turns and drive 100 metres to drive up the Safi By-Pass: this road is exactly parallel to St Paul Str and Zurrieq Rd, it is much wider, and it leads to exactly the same destination!!!!
So where is the discrimination?
John Azzopardi
Sep 30th 2010, 11:27
You cannot keep them away forever.
Joseph Dingli
Sep 30th 2010, 11:22
I wasn't aware that the people of Safi and Zurrieq were of different ethnicities. You learn something new every day.
Lena Hahn
Sep 30th 2010, 12:04
Hahaa :)
luciano busuttil
Sep 30th 2010, 10:17
i remember when a few years back the road from tal barani to santa lucia was closed for a couple of hours to prevent huge traffic from entering santa lucia. all havoc and panic arose in the media and in this blog as it was a decision taken by a PL council. but having a pn council doing worse, attracts no reation at all. i am not saying that both decisions are right or wrong as i am sure both local councils did it to ensure the best for their residents....i am just pointitng out the difference in treatment even by transport malta itself.
A. Zahra
Sep 30th 2010, 11:15
Luciano, get real.
M Vella
Sep 30th 2010, 09:49
Are we seriously reporting that a PQ was levelled at the PM about 'ethnic road closures' ???? What jokers.
A. Zahra
Sep 30th 2010, 11:15
The joker is the one who put the question
M. Azzopardi
Sep 30th 2010, 08:48
is this Sammut the same one who wanted to have a bus exclusively for illegal immigrants?
Silvio Schembri
Sep 30th 2010, 09:38
@M Azzoppardi and Shawn Grima
That is another Joe Sammut not the MP one.
Sean Grima
Sep 30th 2010, 08:37
it was joe sammut who had proposed ethnic segregation, by having different buses for maltese and immigrants.