Sliema needs good governance - Muscat
Good governance has to be introduced at the Sliema council this year to lay the foundation for the next council election in a year's time, PL leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Speaking during a visit to the locality as part of the PL's council elections campaign, Dr Muscat said the situation at the Sliema council was an example of the GonziPN system, with the PN losing five instead of one seat. The PL had the opportunity to join forces with independent councillors to create more trouble in the locality but it chose to act responsibly.
Sliema, Dr Muscat said, had long been the playground for various ministers to come up with projects which, although the PN was benefitting from, were only intended for political gain.
The reason behind the election was because the council as it was had been unable to carry out such projects. This election, he said, would will to voter fatigue.
It was a farce and simply intended for some more votes to be swayed towards the PN in these elections.
This PL was this year seeking as a chance to clear the air and do some basic work that was needed.
Asked who should assume responsibility in the transport bribery issue and why, seeing that this had been exposed, Dr Muscat said this was not the first case of bribery in the authority. It had happened many times and clearly there was something wrong with the system.
TM was the dominium of the GonziPN system and it was not enough to just take action after the act.
Such cases, he said, were the result of not having enough checks and a lack of good governance.
Ministers, Dr Muscat noted, had not even shown responsibility for cases which fell directly under their responsibility, such as the Finance Minister following the Borg Hedley case.
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E. Azzopardi
Feb 23rd, 16:40
The whole country needs GOOD governance. The council did not carry out any projects and lately reporting to the council has been a total joke.
Mr Marcel Dingli
Feb 23rd, 15:35
I must admit, there are a few people i know running on the PN ticket, whilst others running with both PN , LP and independents etc. i have hardly heard about. However, friends or no friends, the very fact that they are running on the PN ticket, excludes them even for a preferetial vote. This is where the buck stops. Sorry PN, too late in the day. i have had enough, what others decide to do is their business. The camel`s back has been broken and there is no way the PN can fix it. Just waiting patiently for the general elections now.
Edward Curmi
Feb 24th, 12:37
Dear Mr.Dingli i am sure the PL will make Sliema flourish knowing that the majority of residents are PN supporters!!! Please note teo previous PN councillors , 1 accused of bribrry have been welcomed by the PL!
Fran Abela
Feb 23rd, 13:54
Dr. Muscat - good governance should apply to ALL local councils not only the ones you select. A good idea would be that laws are enacted so that when a local council is not functioning properly as it should, their term of office can be terminated immediately and not wait until the next elections are due.
Adrian Gatt
Feb 23rd, 12:37
The SRA is confident that Sliema residents will be more cautious with their vote to elect a local council which this town deserves. In fact SRA is proud that Ms Melody Morgan Busher, a former Sliema Residents Association committee member will be a prospective candidate for the local council. Ms Morgan Busher has fought hard against unsustainable development in sliema. She also worked hard for the part scheduling of Villa Bonici and its gardens. We can say that the residents now have a good option.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Feb 23rd, 12:06
Sliema needs good governance like the days of when Robert Arrigo was Mayor. Sliema needs to get rid of those awfull cranes laying around all Sliema roads and streets. Sliema needs cleanliness, nice well kept sea beaches, good roads (not like now with pot holes everywhere), traffic system that let you get into Sliema without any hassle (not like now where one needs an hour to enter Sliema); a nice Ferry area (not like now which looks like it had been hit by bombs) and lastly but not leastly no intruders like Paul Borg Olivier who thanks to him the Sliema Local Council got a red card and thanks to him and his political intervention we have the present poorly, badly, untidy, unshapely, unethical situation in Sliema.
Andrew Cachia
Feb 23rd, 12:03
Apparently, PL also firmly believe that Bugibba too needs good governance. Valletta and Floriana only require moderately good governance, while Marsa & Naxxar are in dire need of poor governance.
William Massa
Feb 23rd, 12:01
I firmly belief that Sliema residents will not forget that on several issues they were taken for a ride by this this Government. The new way of doing Politics especially where accountability is concerned appeals to everyone and Sliema residents know what that means more than others. This time round The PN will loose heavily in this Election. They want to show that they cannot be taken for granted any more. Come on Sliema send your message you will not regret it.
John Scerri
Feb 23rd, 11:48
Sliema needs a stop to high rise development
Sliema needs more and more parking spaces to make up for the lost spaces .
Sliema needs proper traffic management
Sliema needs ergonomic designed side walks
Sliema needs CCTV cameras installed where there are blind spots which may lead to criminal offences like mugging.
Sliema needs someone to sit in a wheel chair and go around with a camera and tablet or note book to jot down areas which are not accessible.
Sliema needs accessibility for customers to go shopping . low cost parking areas most of all .
Sliema needs commercial outlets to succeed.
Sliema is ruined ....Sliema is a NO NO if someone wishes to go for a walk in Ghar id-Dud, or shop.
The first thing which comes into one's mind is ......Where am I going to park ?
The private parking is too expensive.
So Dr. Muscat ...what is your plan ?...........................still waiting.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Feb 23rd, 12:14
Mr. Scerri, i searched but in vain as i didn't find your name amoung the candidates taking part in the election of the Sliema Local Council!!!!!!!! Why you always want to blame Dr. Muscat for the failure of the Sliema Council? Besides, after listening to GonziPn last Sunday at Mosta, where he said he/his government would only help the Mosta Council if the PN has the majority, he should have helped a lot the Sliema council not only because there was a large majority of PN members but also his niece/cousin was the Mayor!!!!!!!!!!! Does Gonzi has a Plan for Sliema????? Maybe Paul Borg Olivier has!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Scerri
Feb 23rd, 12:45
Dear Jonathan I never blamed Dr.Muscat ...I am only asking for a plan in one simple question ...
.So Dr. Muscat ...what is your plan ?...........................still waiting.
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 23rd, 13:50
Dear Mr. Scerri, at least your comments have substance not like some others. You stated ; " The first thing which comes into ones mind is .......... Where am I going to park ? This is quite understandable because cars today are part of our daily lives and help to increase our standard of living if you can afford one.
But let me ask you ; where have you been parking up to now ? And whose fault is it if up to now, you have found it impossible to find a place to park ? Certainly NOT the fault of Dr. Joseph Muscat or the PL or the PL Councillors who are in a minority . So if you want a change, you will have to risk voting either for the PL or Alternattiva Demokratika.who MAY have a plan on how to provide parking spaces . Because if you vote for the PN, more than likely, it will be more of the same.
John Scerri
Feb 23rd, 15:09
Mr. Farrugia......... And whose fault is it if up to now, you have found it impossible to find a place to park ? Certainly NOT the fault of Dr. Joseph Muscat ....of course not .i am not blaming Dr.Muscat.
I will give you a straight reply ...
Sliema Local council , Mepa, The ministry for infrastructure, roads department, TM, property speculators, Mepa.
I do not think all such entities have only PN employees
There is a very serious communication problem and if there is lack of proper management in synchronising tasks between all divisions things will not change.
I do not blame PN, MLP , AD .
I blame the system . It needs a total overhaul by whoever will be elected to govern.
As for my vote .....I will not risk my vote ...It will go to whoever submits the most practically possible solutions and proposals , meaning not promising what cannot be fulfilled.
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 23rd, 15:57
Mr. Scerri, you make a sensible argument except for one piece. You stated ; " I do not blame the PN, PL or AD. I blame the system. It needs a total overhaul by whoever will be elected to govern ".
I believe that whoever is governing creates policies ( albeit the system ) according to their principles and political programme. The political party that has been making the policies for the past 25 years, ( except for a break in 1996 - 1998 ) is the PN. There are Ministers responsible to the taxpayer to monitor the entitiies you mentioned and make sure they are ALL ticking. I believe that when you say you do not blame anybody, you are hiding from the truth. That attitude will not change the system I believe.
Marco Galea
Feb 23rd, 11:21
"Sliema needs good governance" - Muscat
wow thanks Einstein!
Victor Laiviera
Feb 23rd, 11:44
If it is so obvious, why is there no sign of it?
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 23rd, 12:26
Mr. Marco Galea, I am amazed and how is it that you always find the time to make such superflous comments like this one. Even if you want to criticise the PL, can't you do it with some substance so that
we may learn from your superior intelligence.
Edward Curmi
Feb 24th, 11:59
I am sure he will ask Mr.Engerer to help in the running of the council!!