Bertrand Borg, Christian Peregin
End of the road for Sliema local council
Sliema’s beleaguered local council is to be dissolved, following months of trouble, infighting and councillors resigning from their respective political parties.
Deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer broke the news on his Facebook page yesterday, saying a council election will be called on March 10.
A government spokesman subsequently confirmed the news, saying the process leading to the council’s formal dissolution was under way.
Dissolution has been on the cards since the beginning of the year, when the council was given 10 days to resolve internal disputes or be terminated.
Following an urgent council meeting characterised by bickering councillors, six voted against disbanding the council and in favour of giving the Prime Minister a work plan stretching to March 2013. Two councillors voted in favour and one abstained.
But the work plan evidently did not suffice, with the Department for Local Governance recommending the council’s dissolution regardless.
“The truth is the Nationalist Party lost its majority of seats in Sliema, rendering it unable to issue the usual favours to Sliema Nationalists before the general election,” Mr Engerer wrote on his Facebook wall.
“If it is true that the council should be dissolved because of disagreements among councillors, why shouldn’t Parliament be dissolved when there is much more disagreement among Nationalist MPs?”
Mr Engerer stands as an independent councillor after resigning from the PN and joining the Labour Party last July. He is one of five Sliema councillors elected on a PN ticket who have since left the party.
A response to Mr Engerer’s comments was soon forthcoming from PN councillor Julian Galea.
“I’m amazed at Mr Engerer’s position, considering his prominent role in leading independent and PL councillors to miss council meetings in order to prevent it from reaching a quorum,” Mr Galea said.
“His actions were one of the main reasons things reached this stage in the first place.”
He, however, felt that dissolution was inevitable. “Dissolution is the only way forward. The people have lost faith in too many councillors.”
When contacted, Mr Engerer insisted the council had not stopped functioning and had even held more meetings than usual last year. He said the council also met twice this year where it took a number of decisions.
He said the disagreements claimed by the Prime Minister were not unusual between the various factions.
Mayor Joanna Gonzi, who had been appointed to the council’s top seat following a motion of no confidence in previous incumbent Nikki Dimech, was not available for comment.
Sliema’s current council has had a turbulent couple of years, with Mr Dimech charged with corruption and a number of councillors the subject of police investigations.
When is a council dissolved
According to the Local Councils Act, the President can dissolve a council on the advice of the Prime Minister if:
• An Auditor General report finds persistent breach of financial responsibilities.
• The council persistently disregards the provisions of the law.
• There is a formal notice given by the minister responsible (now Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici).
• There is lack of agreement in electing a mayor.
• There is lack of agreement in approving annual estimates.
• If a board appointed under the Inquiries Act recommends dissolution.
15 Comments
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Valerie Calleja
Feb 16th, 07:15
I propose Mr Adrian Gatt and Mr Joe Morana to join the Sliema Council, as councillors or as Mayor. They have both worked tirelessly for Sliema Residents.
John F. Galea
Jan 25th, 19:12
John F. Galea
Sliema residents deserve much much better than the prevailing situation. There are many senior residents who have the know-how and administrative experience to run such a Council.
A rapidly and accelerating complete change should be in motion. Managing change is not an easy task and requires effective management skills.Sliema residents should cast their vote to new, fresh prospective candidates with a clear and trustworthy vision. Residents should cast their vote to leaders who create a culture and a value system centered upon principles.
A crucial characteristic of a prospective Council member is that of setting examples, commitment, and of communicating through one's own behaviour more than words. Credibility is won by a person of integrity, trust, character, principles, values, transperancy and loyalty. The Council cannot remain the prerogrative of one single person, but has to become plural, team based, collegial.
Sliema is endowed with high calibre people, talented leaders, who should therefore put pen to paper as prospective candidates at the coming Local Council elections. Ask not what the council can do for you and your clique, but ask what you can do for the Sliema residents.
Joe Morana
Jan 25th, 19:00
I am confident that many Sliema residents feel let down by the ' dissolved' Local Council in more than one aspect.
a) I reiterate that the 'political' composition is not what Sliema residnets voted for
b) Sliema residents did not get the Mayor they voted for
c) Sliema residents are dismayed that a singificant number of councillors are either under Police investigations or criminal court proceedings
d) the Council's performance was poor to say the least
I am confident that many Sliema residents have become wiser and are looking forward to vote for a 'new' Local Council which really represents their legitimate rights and aspirations
G Schembri
Jan 25th, 17:51
In my opinion a good number of local councils should be dissolved. Mainly those councils being investigated for fraud and bad practice, for administering public funds incorrectly, in rewarding tenders with lots of question marks ????? Recently we learnt through several PQs the extravagant expenditure by Mayors and councillors on overseas travels, telephone bills, meaningless activities, parties and festivities. Expenditure against regulations approved after the event has taken place. Yearly warning by the Auditor General against these councils continually being disregarded. Please stop this corruption and waste of public funds.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Jan 25th, 14:28
“The truth is the Nationalist Party lost its majority of seats in Sliema, rendering it unable to issue the usual favours to Sliema Nationalists before the general election,” Mr Engerer wrote on his Facebook wall.
WELL SAID CYRUS.
Michael Magri
Jan 25th, 13:51
If i am not mistaken, Sliema was not supposed to be included for next March elections...!!!
Come to think of it, this would surely give the PN some great help in first count votes ...!!!
Mmmmmmmm... I wonder then if that is the real reason/cause for this timely dissolvency...!!!!
Karl Consiglio
Jan 25th, 10:48
Anyways..Now we have an election and the same ones go up.
James Pullicino
Jan 25th, 10:32
Does this mean that we can take our dogs swimming now?
Karl Consiglio
Jan 25th, 10:48
Topless
James Wightman
Jan 25th, 21:50
From both ends
Peter Murray
Jan 25th, 10:28
So the goverment can intervene in Local Council affairs which is contrary too and inconsistent with claims made by the Minister responsible when asked about claims of fraud and corruption involving past and present local councillors in the air fare claim scam ,for he said the government couldn't interfere.So which is it Mr Minister?
Adrian Gatt
Jan 25th, 09:23
As usual, the Mayor was not available for comments. She was never available for answering emails, answering press, answering questions during a residents meeting set up by the council itself, answering anything as a matter of fact. It seems that she was the least approachable of all Mayors. And these are not just my personal views but of several Sliema residents.
Lets just hope that the upcoming election will get us a Local Council which will fight for the true interests of the residents and take a strict stand against overdevelopment, pollution and traffic chaos. Only time will tell
Peter Murray
Jan 25th, 10:32
Don't know a Mayor or local council who do respond to any form of correspondence from their electorate and this Lady Mayoress or Sliema council members do not belong to an unique club in this vital aspect and ignoring their residents concerns or in their duty of obligation(as this is enshrined in legislation) to respond.Who ensures this is complied with?
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 25th, 11:57
Mr Gatt: you have only one choice: vote AD.
Steve Busuttil
Jan 25th, 14:52
The first one to really fight for residents' interests including residents parking gets my vote. Also there are 3 roads closed in Sliema today and these apart from the ones that are closed due to a crane placed there for months on end. Is anyone checking what chaos this causes?