Inhabitants in half of the localities spread out across Malta and Gozo will soon be going to the polling booths to cast their vote and elect a new set of councillors to handle their needs on the respective local council.

Over 300 candidates are vying for a seat on the various councils. I would like to take a look at the duties and responsibilities both from the candidate’s side of the coin as well as the residents’.

Irrespective of which political party they are standing for or whether they are contesting the elections independently, those elected must ensure they work as a team and at all times represent the resident in the best possible way.

Councillors are to ensure that such needs are seen to in an efficient and appropriate manner and ensure that contact withresidents does not just occur around election time, when vying for their vote, but that residents feel they are at the heart of the work undertaken by the local council.

Just as, in marketing, the customer is the most important person, when it comes to local councils the ‘customer’ is the resident himself. Of course, this does not apply just to candidates seeking election but also to those already fulfilling such an important public role as well as to anyone else who is considering contesting in the future.

Being an active citizen ensures one’s council is truly representing the needs of the locality

Not everyone may understand the workings of the local council and the problems that a local council itself may encounter. However, councillors should ensure they help residents comprehend this, no matter how frustrated they may be. This will, in turn, help residents appreciate the important work that is undertaken by a local council and the hours that are dedicated by councillors to ensure their locality is run in an efficient manner.

And now a message to voters.

The chance to vote is not a gift but is a right that is given to you upon attaining the legal age. Make use of such right. Once at the polling booth, do not simply vote because a candidate or person X told you to do so but because you really believe that those who you are choosing can truly represent you on the council and you genuinely believe that they will work in the best interests of the locality.

A ballot may appear to be just a piece of paper to some but bear in mind that how you use that document will directly influence who will be part of your locality’s council.

Therefore, on April 11, come rain or shine, go and cast your vote and have your say.

Residents of all localities should support their local council in the hard work it puts in to ensure the locality is governed in the best possible way.

Residents should attend events the council holds to raise much-needed public funds so these can be directly invested back into the community. Residents should express their opinion during the annual general meetings where they are given the opportunity to express themselves and, through their vote, indicate whether they approve of any report being discussed by the councillors.

Local councils require residents’ input to come up with proposals or alternatives. Residents must also be willing to voice their concerns.

In addition, residents are encouraged to put forward their names for the various sub-committees that might be set up by their local council. Being an active citizen is the best possible tool one can have in ensuring that one’s council is truly representing the needs of the locality.

Lastly, a message to all the candidates contesting the upcoming election.

Even if not elected, they should remember that they all decided to contest the election because they felt they could make a difference to the locality which they contested.

They should not stop working for the good of the locality and offer their help to those candidates elected and be of assistance.

They should remember one thing: they started off as a team of candidates, they campaigned as a team by urging residents to make use of the single transferable vote system by voting for all candidates and should remain as a team even after the election is done and dusted!

Robert Dingli is a PN candidate for the Swieqi local council elections.