What’s in store now for people in Sliema?

A knight, a circus organiser and the leader of the green party are all in the running for a place on the Sliema local council, which faces an early election after two years of unrest.

We still want to work together for all residents

Only three of those elected in 2009 will be contesting again, so as 19 candidates vie for 11 places, residents can overhaul the dysfunctional council.

The Nationalist Party, which has a traditional stronghold in Sliema but lost five councillors in the past two years, has fielded 11 candidates while the Labour Party has put forward five.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Michael Briguglio, who was elected in 2003 and 2006 but lost his seat in 2009, will contest again on behalf of the green party.

Meanwhile, two newcomers will join the fray. Christopher Cassar will contest on a new party ticket called Partit Aħjar (A Better Party) while Melody Morgan-Busher, a British expat who helped found the Sliema Residents Association, is running as an independent councillor.

The only PN councillor to re-contest is Julian Galea, who kept a low public profile during the various crises at the council, which saw three councillors face council-related criminal charges.

Former mayor Nikki Dimech and Joanna Gonzi, who replaced Mr Dimech after he was ousted, have both decided to throw in the towel. So has deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer, who defected to Labour when Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi voted against divorce after the referendum.

The PN’s new candidates are: Kris Busietta, Antoinette Castaldi Paris (mother of Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris), Anthony Chircop, Vivienne Galea-Pace, Nicholai Grech, John Pillow, Pierre Paul Portelli, Paul Radmilli, (Chev) Philip Andrew Ransley and entrepreneur Silvio Zammit, who has brought controversial animal circuses to the island.

On the other hand, Labour has fielded two of its incumbents, Marianne Aquilina and Nicolai Gauci, as well as three new faces: Mary Camilleri, Lowell Fenech and Jesmond Marshall. The other previous Labour councillor, Martin Debono, whoalso faced council-related criminal charges and resigned from the party, will not contest.

The Times spoke to the three main parties to see why frustrated Sliema residents should give them their vote.

PN’s last standing councillor Julian Galea says the party should be rewarded because it did not tolerate any nonsense or illegalities from its councillors.

“We always led a serious council and when the situation was unacceptable we dissolved the council, unlike Labour which played games and wanted to keep the council going. We also have the best candidates and the best plan for this year. PN councillors will give Sliema back its dignity.”

Labour’s Marianne Aquilina, who had earned most votes for her party after Mr Debono, said her party always worked for all residents and with all councillors and never displayed the “back-stabbing” which PN councillors showed.

“PN councillors plotted against each other, but when we had enough independent councillors to remove Joanna Gonzi, we did not. We just wanted and still want to work together for all residents, regardless of political colour.”

Meanwhile, AD’s Dr Briguglio warned residents that both big parties were “held hostage” by big developers because of their close financial ties, while autonomous candidates could take a clear stand on issues which affected residents.

“Being autonomous from the construction industry enables us to fight for residents’ rights, not only when it comes to big developments but also when it comes to roads, pavements, noise pollution and other inconveniences.”

As the March 10 election approaches, it is certain each candidate has a lot of persuading to do, be it at house visits or Facebook campaigns, if they are to convince Sliema residents to vote after two unimpressive years.