Matthew Xuereb
Mayor backs disbanding of local council
Sliema mayor Johanna Gonzi “fully supports” the government decision to dissolve the council “which is not functioning the way it should be”.
“The decision to dissolve it was right. Although I abstained from voting when the warning letter was discussed at council level, I fully support it because the council was not functioning the way it should have been, obviously to the detriment of residents,” she said when contacted yesterday.
She said she that, so far, she had not yet been officially informed about the decision, adding that this was “apparently normal, as we will only be informed afterwards”.
Dr Gonzi, who climbed to the hot seat following the resignation of former mayor Nikki Dimech, who was charged with bribery, said council meetings – 84 of them since she took over – were “difficult”, with “constant bickering, including personal insults”.
As an example of how the council could not function, Dr Gonzi said it took the council eight months to adjudicate the waste collection tender because some councillors would not attend meetings “because of personal conflicts”.
Her deputy, former Nationalist councillor Cyrus Engerer, who resigned from the Nationalist Party to join Labour and became an independent member, has “absolutely no doubt” that there were “ulterior motives” behind the decision to dissolve the council. He is one of five Sliema councillors elected on a PN ticket who have since left the party.
He believes the PN, which lost the majority of councillors, wants to regain control of the council at this Nationalist stronghold for it to be able to do the “usual favours” before the forthcoming election.
He lamented that councillors did not see the report of the Internal Audit and Investigations Department, which is being quoted by the government as one of the reasons for the council’s dissolution. Neither did they see the report compiled by the Department for Local Government, recommending disbanding the council, Mr Engerer said.
He rejected as a “blatant lie” a comment by fellow councillor Julian Galea that he led independent and Labour councillors to miss council meetings to prevent it from securing a quorum.
Asked whether he would run on a PL ticket should an election in Sliema be called, Mr Engerer said he was keeping his options open. “If I’ll contest, I’ll contest for Labour,” he said.
Similarly, Dr Gonzi said she had not given any thought to the idea of contesting the election.
The Sliema council has had a turbulent couple of years, with Mr Dimech charged with corruption and a number of councillors the subject of police investigations.
64 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
mark borg
Jan 28th, 18:18
Better dissolve the parlament Dr.L Gonzi ,than wasting time dissolving some concil, of some couisin or whatever this lady is related .....
Adrian E. Camilleri
Jan 27th, 23:31
Now this is quite incredible! Madam Mayor, Dr. Gonzi, is the Mayor and therefore the head od the Local Council. She should be the one to control proceedings and if this has not happened, thenit is the Mayor who is to shoulder responsibility. It is obvious that Madam mayor has NOT succeeded in her task; there is no excuse Dr. Gonzi. Also why do you not reply to e-mails addressed to you? That is not very ethical is it?! You may have had difficult times, but you must certainly have realised what you were in for when you originally accepted to take up the post! Dr. Gonzi has failed as Mayor of Sliema, and that is obvious! The rest of the Counsellors may have played their part as well to all the problems being faced, but the Mayor should have taken the reins and led the way to better administration and effective management. The team in Sliema had a bad coach. But the players have certainly held her downfall. Elections are long overdue, and welcome indeed.
Alfred Falzon
Jan 27th, 18:13
And the PL persists in finding no fault with this Local Council and implicitly hails it as an example of clean governance!
All we need to recall are other Labour-run Local Councils where the PL kept mum notwithstanding various irregularities: Fgura, Cospicua (Bormla), Mtarfa, Sannat (Gozo), Mosta, just to name but a few!
Small wonder!
Impressive, indeed!
Hopefully they don't reflect the way the PL will run Malta when it's this Party's turn to be in power!
Alfred A. Falzon
m. borg (slm)
Jan 27th, 20:37
Who kept mum?
Those irregularities were also involved gonzipn councillors.
PL has many times repeated the offer to disattach councils from party politics and let councillors run independently. But gonzipn/PN would not have it, because they are a source of pre-elections hand outs stations.
Alfred Falzon
Jan 27th, 21:47
@ m. borg (slm)
It is quite a lame excuse to beat about the bush by ascertaining that the irregularities involved likewise Nationalist councillors!
You are not being true to yourself and you want to mislead public opinion!
Refer to past papers and acknowledge that the persons involved in the above-mentioned Local Councils (I would rather refrain from naming them) are PL councillors about whom the Party machine had nothing to say or contemplate any disciplinary measures against them up to this very day!
The PN has had also its fair share of Councillors who failed to fulfil their duties but, at least, steps were taken against most of them, even though somewhat reluctantly!
Our two main Parties need urgently to clean their Augean stables!
Alfred A. Falzon
Anthony Charles Abela
Jan 28th, 02:04
Oh so quick to judge and cast stones. Who ever heard of a govt.'s decision, a controversial one at that, and not showing the charge sheet of the alleged accusations?. If ,as suggested there were any improprieties then the govt. body should have given all councilors a charge sheet albeit a list of allegations. Every one is entitled to give an explanation of any and I repeat any accusations that are put on the table. Malta fought the German axis hard to maintain the right of freedom and if Malta is to maintain that they are democratic, they have to prove it. This govt is taking too many short cuts to do away with democracy thinking they know best.Give a fair go to all. Which ever side they;re on. Anthony C.Abela Melb. Aust.
Alfred Falzon
Jan 28th, 12:46
@ Anthony Charles Abela
Posting a comment from Melbourne, Australia, is indicative of the interest our compatriots from Down Under still manifest in their Mother Country. Thank you.
Yes, Mr Abela, there is an urgent need in Malta for a more transparent and accountable Administration, be it to the right or to the left!
Kindly refer to the various reports on the Sliema Counci featuring in local past Maltese-language and English-language newspapers for a confirmation of what I have stated further up the scroll! Were these journalists also jumping to conclusions? Was there any libel action taken by the injured party for slander? If so, what was the outcome? We are most anxious to know!
As things stand, and in order to clear the air, the Sliema Local Council must be replaced by a more responsible one in word and in deed! This time round, it will be once more the Sliemites who will choose their Councillors with absolutely no imposition from above! That's democracy in action!
Alfred A. Falzon
m. borg (slm)
Jan 27th, 18:02
"Similarly, Dr Gonzi said she had not given any thought to the idea of contesting the election."
.
Of course she's going for something bigger , like a place in parliament? Another reason she agrees with her uncle about dissolving the Sliema council.
m. borg (slm)
Jan 27th, 17:59
Of course the mayor agrees with the disbanding of the Sliema council, how could she say otherwise to uncle Lawrence.
.
Anyway Sliema will be used as a test in the local council elections in March in order to see where gonziPN stands with the electorate then decide when to call general elections.
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jan 27th, 17:29
Surely without any doubt the present Sliema Mayor is another 'Yes Minister'.
If according to the Mayor her Local Council is not functioning the way it should be and that is why GonziPartitNegattiv inforced the Local Council to be dissolve? Than how much should GonziPartitNegattiv be dissolve when the Government is not functioning the way it should be and further more has no majority in Parliament??????????
The Sliema Mayor commented that since she took over the council meetings were 'difficult' with "constant bickering' including personal insults."
This lagislature from the start was full of difficulties with constant bickering coming from the PN backbanch. And the personal insults that various PN sympathisers wrote on their blogs against various PN's Member of Parliament are incredible. Is this the reason (constant bickering including personal insults within the GonziPartitNegattiv camp) that the Mayor had not given any thought to the idea of contesting the Council election?
If according to the Mayor the council could not function because it took the council eight months to adjudicate the waste collection tender? Than how much more and more GonziPartitNegattiv is not functioning well as after 6 years a law that the Parliament passed, (which law Franco Debono MP criticised GonziPN ) it is not yet implimented?
It is ample clear that GonziPartitNegattiv dissolved the Sliema Council for other 'ulterior motives.'
Anthony Schembri adami
Jan 27th, 17:00
Why create problems where none exist? Party divisions should NEVER have been put into local elections, thus leaving them open to those who have the locality at heart.
John Said
Jan 27th, 17:00
It is unbelievable how some people always try to blame those who stick to their principals. The blame for all the chaos here has to go to those people who were elected thanks to the party symbol next to their name, and yet decided to go solo once elected. In Malta there is no way that one would be elected if not alligned with one of the the two majour political parties, accept a very few, and i mean really few cases. These people lack strong principals, cause you can not betray does who helped you achieve what you have, if you no longer support their ideas, then call your self out completely. There is no way you can save guard your honour unless you do so. If you make part of a gang of theives, and one day you decide to save your soul, you can not just call the others thieves and yet keep the stolen staff you have at home!
Valerie Calleja
Jan 27th, 16:13
Sliema has been abandoned. Her higness the mayor never answers emails.No one has ever listened to what we have to say. Filthy streets, broken roads, drunken so called students littering our streets. Shocking behaviour during the summer months on the beaches, and in the streets. At least Mrs Arrigo had the courtesty to acknowledge emails and sometimes try and help.We are chocking with dust from the disgraceful, continuous building, enourmour trucks dashing down the streets. Nightmare town is what my foreign friends call Sliema and so do I. Who is responsible?I certainly have no political clout to change things.
Joseph Calleja
Jan 27th, 15:27
Another Gonzi in trouble? Amazing.
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 15:10
Kull fej jidhol il-kunjom Gonzi tahwid u dizastri? Give us a break!
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Jan 27th, 14:45
What's good for the gender is good for the goose. If in the Sliema local council there was no team work and hence dissolve the council, the same must be said to the Maltese government!!!!!!!! Dissolve parlament go for an election because the whole world now knows there was and there is still no team work on the GonziPN side!!!!
Sandra Camilleri
Jan 27th, 14:26
Madam Mayor should get her facts right prior to writing in the media. The council was not functioning she said -
perhaps she does not recall that SLIEMA COUNCIL has a record of the number of meetings held. The councilor
Julian Galea also has to watch what he writes. Blaming other councilors for not having a quorum. RUBBISH! How many times did councilors have to wait for him because he was always late or for 3 months never came to the council due to his work. Why are you blaming the Independent Candidates and PL - stop this nonsence we all know that you are after GONZI seat! Residents have had no reply to any emails or calls by the Mayor - so what are you getting at Julian Galea. Ambition gets you know where!
j brincat
Jan 27th, 14:12
Timothy Cachia
"So if your surname is Gonzi automatically you are cursed according to you? If the prime minster had your surname I don't think you would be passing that comment now would you"
What curse?
You failed to get the message or don't want to. But what can I do about this?
(jb).
j brincat
Jan 27th, 14:09
@George Calleja
"Like Mintoff himself...don't you remember when the Great Leader said that he would not govern if not backed by the majority.....and then ruled for 5 years and many months after!!!"
And the PN conveniently sided with him (their long declared enemy) to bring Dr Sant down after just 18 months in power. This when Dr Sant got more that 8000 votes and so the absolute majority NOT like Gonzi PN (NM) who just scrapped through with a mere 1500 votes - after much power of incumbency!
(jb)
Note: NM = No Majority
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 14:04
Ah , since the 'speaker' could not vote, there was no alternative but to disband the local council! And the GonziPN farce goes on and on!
Carmel Cilia
Jan 27th, 13:48
Is Sliema major by any coincidence a Gonzi. Anybody thought otherwise. This country is really becoming a champion of democracy. Keep it running.
M Grima
Jan 27th, 13:10
What exactly is happening to some nationalists. First we had Franco Debono who over and over again talks big in front of the cameras and then at crunch time he dissolves into nothing. Now we have Johanna Gonzi who does a similar u-turn where it concerns the Sliema local council. These people really excel on taking people for a ride.
Mario J Spiteri
Jan 27th, 12:22
What a shame dear Mayor, dissolving our local council for 1 YEAR!
It's better to have a temporary local council headed by the executive secretary & then next year will follow the local council election! other wise is a pn lobbying as usual.
For the sake of the argument is the same for the government. 34 by 34 + speaker's casting vote is not a majority for the government because not all the govt. deputies vote against!
Pls the opposition should take the result and take care what to say because it's not a winning vote for the opposition BUT not a winning vote for the government also.
Simon Bonello
Jan 27th, 12:21
hahahaha hadd ma nduna li ha taqbel............ bizejjed ticcejka l kunjom !
joe vella
Jan 27th, 11:59
It appears that mayor gonzi is emulating her more renowned relative!
first she let everything go, lost control - the whole thing smells of mismanagement and now she agrees to have the council dissolved so that her party gets a second chance
where is the sense of leadership and authority in all of this? is this good management to let the whole organisation go haywire and then agree with a dissolution? It would be extremely foolish for the sliema residents to have somebody like her even into the council let alone lead it !
In one aspect she differs from lawrence, at least he fought tooth and nail to stick to his seat in parliament and went all out to avoid a dissolution
Julian Galea
Jan 27th, 11:55
I just love the way non sliema residents want to have a say in this also. Some people just want to blame the government for anything.
Sliema residents know that this council was not delivering and has not been delivering for some time.
it was easy to just sit pretty and do nothing but obviously this is not what we were elected to do.
As a councillor myself in this council i passed through meetings where PL and now independent councillors used to just want to read the council minutes throughout the whole meeting and waste everybody’s time. Other times they just did not turn up just leaving the 3 PN councillors there without a quorum and other times if they disagreed with what was being discussed they would just walk out.
How could a mayor work with a team like this? Ultimately their goal was to disrupt Sliema and give the council and mainly the Mayor a bad name because of her surname and try to do most damage to the PN in Sliema.
First they destablised the council for personal reasons then they wanted to destroy it yet again for political reasons. We were elected by the people for the people and the PN councillors including the Mayor did their utmot for the people.
As to Mr Engerers claim that the PN could not do any favours, he should tell us what these favours are as the last time an ex mayor approved works on a PRIVATE PROPERTY, PN councillors and himself when still representing PN decided to stop this and this is a case which is being discussed in court.
Mr Engerer is no victim but one of the main causes of instability that this council was facing for the past months
Jon Vercellono
Jan 27th, 13:29
Although I am a non-Sliema resident, I do believe - after a very serious and thorough study of Sliema and the politics of her residents, that I can say, the residents get exactly what they voted for. Why in the world would the residents vote out an extremely proactive councillor (who is a paragon of values and the work-ethic) and represented not only the residents, but presented the city to the rest of the island in an extremely positive light. After voting out someone like that (and I can honestly say that I wish there were many more like him), they complain about what they got in return. It seems as though Sliema was always in a positive light prior to the last election.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 27th, 14:36
Of course Govt is to blame. It was a huge mistake to involve political parties in Local Councils and now see what happens. All the councillors do is tow the party line, no matter what the consequeces are. Do you honestly think people are fooled by Mayor Gonzi's statement? Do you honestly think people are so stupid that they do not realise thay she is only saying what she was told to say - putting her party before the interests of the residents? Just like the PM, you treat people like idiots, thinking that they are not intelligent enough to see through you.
Saviour M Garzia
Jan 27th, 11:17
quote:She said she that, so far, she had not yet been officially informed about the decision, adding that this was “apparently normal, as we will only be informed afterwards”.
Am I to understand that the PM takes a decision to dissolve a local council without informing the Mayor in his/her capacity as head of the local council? In my opinion the Mayor of the council concerned should be the first to know officially as she/he represents the residents.
Joseph Aquilina
Jan 27th, 10:59
It is funny how Cyrus, "all of a sudden" became another conspirator theorist just like all the PL supporters who happen to write on these blogs. However I am sure that this time round the problem is not "Superoneamberrhinopathy” (A know syndrome effecting those who watch one TV for more than a few minutes a day). I am sure that this time round it is more about self interest at the determent of PL itself.
Wayne Criggs
Jan 27th, 10:57
Gonzi fully supports Gonzi. What a news!!
Wayne Criggs
Jan 27th, 10:53
Gonzi to take initiatives to ensure PN is FULLY behind him - this is yesterday's article heading.
Sliema mayor Johanna Gonzi “fully supports” the government decision - this is today's news.
Media and PN orchestration at its best.
George Azzopardi
Jan 27th, 10:48
What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
GonziPN is disbanding Sliema Council because the council is not functioning the way it should have been since PN has lost majority. So why is he not doing the same in parliament!! What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Mario Cassar
Jan 27th, 13:34
You hit the nail on it's head Mr Azzopardi!
Paul Caruana
Jan 27th, 10:41
No surpises here....with rare exceptions, people in power always act to safeguard their interests.
E. Azzopardi
Jan 27th, 10:40
And as usual, it is the citizens, in this case the residents, who have been suffering. It seems to me ( not the only one) that for a long time, nobody cared, as can be seen from the filth and shabbiness around Sliema, this mecca of tourism!! To state that the "council was not functioning the way it should have been" is a gross understament. And for goodness sake, can we have mayors, who are not all tied up with their profession or work so that they can dedicate more time to the council? I am sure that many residents who are good administrators and have their locality really at heart, would get involved in the councils, but politics has really
kept them away. Pity, as we shall have the councils we deserve, Sliema to start with.
Anthony Mizzi
Jan 27th, 10:36
'What's good for the GOOSE is good for the gander'
'What's good for the GOnziOSE at SLIEMA is NOT good for the gander',,,,,, EVEN IF BOTH HAVE THE SAME NAMESAKE !
If Dr. Gonzi used the same yardstick, ( he never does) he used to dissolve Sliema Local Council who no longer have a P.N. Majority , on the administration of the country with the result of yesterday's vote.... the Prime Minister would be visiting the President today and not getting away from it all!
Lucas North
Jan 27th, 13:11
"What's good for the GOOSE is good for the gander"
nice to see that at least the PL supporters are consistent... at least in quoting their Dear Leader...
Hossam Helwani
Jan 27th, 10:23
I am glad that this council is to be dismantled and voters can elect a new team.
One thing is keeping me very curious, I would like to see sliema labour supporters voting in cyrus engerer. I would love to see how much they want him in.
Victor Laiviera
Jan 27th, 10:18
The Gonzis seem to have a family trait - saying one thing an voting another.
George Calleja
Jan 27th, 12:36
Like Mintoff himself...don't you remember when the Great Leader said that he would not govern if not backed by the majority.....and then ruled for 5 years and many months after!!!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 10:17
Speak of a PN oligarchy. We have political families owning a political party under the guise of democatic elections.
Dominic Micallef
Jan 27th, 10:13
So the major thinks that the council was not functioning the way it was supposed to.
Was remedial action being taken care of especially by the highest authority in the Council ? I think that a portion of the blame has to be shouldered by the major herself !
joe vella
Jan 27th, 12:01
dead right, she has admitted she was completely hopeless and useless as a mayor and as a leader
Carmel Farrugia
Jan 27th, 10:10
The Sliema Local Council never really functioned. The problems facing Sliema 10 years ago are all with us to the detriment of its inhabitants. Not one of these old festering problems has been solved. Just to mention a few: parking, cleanliness, one eternal building site, etc.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 27th, 14:40
"one eternal building site".. Sliema people should really not complain at all on this. MEPA has been giving out permits in Sliema for many years; you know who appoints MEPA board members - so why did you vote for the same people who do their best to ensure that contractors get as many permits as they can in Sliema? You get the Govt you deserve, so don't complain now.
M Muscat
Jan 27th, 09:55
Xi hadd kellu xi dubju li din ma taqbilx ma GONZIPN. Ghanki isimha listess u jekk hi tirraprezenta lill GONZIPN
mhux bilfors li taqbel, mhux ghax gebdila l-ispaga Borg Olivier.
j brincat
Jan 27th, 09:46
Isn't her name Gonzi, so what do you expect!
(jb)
Timothy Cachia
Jan 27th, 10:38
So if your surname is Gonzi automatically you are cursed according to you? If the prime minster had your surname I don't think you would be passing that comment now would you.
Victor Vella
Jan 27th, 10:39
agree
Christian Sciberras
Jan 27th, 11:20
No, that's called "surname".
P. Ciantar
Jan 27th, 09:44
the wost council in the history of locals councils in Malta to date
B Ellul
Jan 27th, 10:07
in the history of councils!!!!! you should look up the history books again my friend......
M.Dolores Vassallo
Jan 27th, 10:29
Kull fejn hemm GonziPN and Co. Falliment assolut
P. Ciantar
Jan 27th, 12:03
@ B Ellul -no need to look at history books this council was ridded with arrests courts party ross alliances etc. This was the woest council in Malta ever always in the new fo bad reasons.
Further more Dolores people like you and your hysteria on politics put many people to vote for the only sensible solution Gonzi and the PN
Joe A. Borg
Jan 27th, 09:40
Another Gonzi?
So first she abstained from voting when the warning letter was discussed at council level and now declares that she fully supports the acton!
Seems to be a family trait, must be genetic!!
P BORG
Jan 27th, 09:38
“He (Mr. Cyrus Engerer) believes the PN, which lost the majority of councillors, wants to regain control of the council at this Nationalist stronghold for it to be able to do the “usual favours” before the forthcoming election”
If this is the case could you please state what kind of “usual favours” did YOU dish for your election?
M Cassar
Jan 27th, 10:12
Good question!
R. Balzan
Jan 27th, 09:34
Of course Dr Gonzi would support a Dr Gonzi decision. Whoever thought otherwise? Electing a new council now for just a one year term until scheduled elections are held in 2013, smacks of ulterior motives.
Peter Murray
Jan 27th, 09:34
How can you abstain on such a vital issue yet fully support it?I do hope she contests the election as Sliema residents will not abstain from not crossing her box!
mario gellel
Jan 27th, 09:29
GONZI SUPPORTS GONZI.
A. Mizzi
Jan 27th, 09:26
Mela hi ma hiex kapaci tmexi!
Bl-istess raguni, ghandhu jzarma il-Gvern tieghu Gonzi stess!
A.M. Galea
Jan 27th, 10:05
Naqbel mieghek 100% ghax jekk tuza l-istess argument li ixxolji il-Kunsill ta' tas-Sliema ghax ma jistax jiffunzjona tajjeb , mela kemm ghandek ixxolji il-Parlament li hu istituzzjoni hafna aktar gholja ghax dan ma jistax jiffunzjona tajjeb ghax il-gvern ma ghandux maggoranza min fost id-deputati tieghu stess ?
Pat Hobson
Jan 27th, 09:22
birds of a feather flock together!