Councils key to quality of life

Every policy for the local councils must have at its core the interests of the Maltese communities. Councils are the means towards a better quality of life. Councils’ actions or inactions have a direct effect on our lives.

This said, we do acknowledge that people have, somehow, lost confidence in local councils because of certain councillors. Yet, despite this unfortunate situation, the majority of councillors work hard.

The Labour Party tackles all challenges with determination and puts the interests or families’ needs and aspirations as the main objective of every initiative. It believes strongly in the ability of the Maltese. Together we can make positive changes.Led by Joseph Muscat, the party deems that councils should not be subservient to the bureaucratic web that could well hinder their work. On the contrary, they should be served by the bureaucratic system.

A change in government’s attitude, its entities and departments is needed so that these can be part of the link between the government and councils. Councils need to be the vehicle through which good governance can be achieved wisely. Councillors and the PL have the responsibility to bring along the much-needed breath of fresh air so that no stone is left unturned to make our families and communities better.

The work of all councils ought to aspire to a service that would do away with the bureaucratic hurdles. Thus, every mayor, every councillor and every official must make it their priority to fulfil the needs of communities and not allow the bureaucratic web to hinder their work.

This is what the PL believes in; this is what Dr Muscat has been saying all along. Good leadership brings us closer to our goal, that of placing our families’ interests at the core of politics.

Therefore, councils must be the medium through which people participate directly and actively in decision making and our policies must come from below – as both the principles of democracy and sustainability dictate. A new government led by Dr Muscat will bring about a social atmosphere that improves our lives.

Malta can thrive if a change to the structures of government is forthcoming and an atmosphere in which individual ideas, abilities and initiatives are promoted and encouraged.

The government should not use the local councils as scapegoats on whom the onus of bad governance is dishonestly placed while the government gets full points for all that which turns out to be good. We want councils to be organised in a regional context where our legitimate aspirations are achieved.

Let us make our country richer in ideas and in abilities by placing the public at the centre of our policies, by seriously prioritising our people’s interests.

Let us work hard so that we may provide better living. We have to be the quintessential example of good governance as the only alternative to the waste of resources and to the present government’s lack of commitment.

Councils are the link joining our aspirations to the interests of everyone.