Campaigning in Sliema heated up this week as the two main parties held press conferences on the upcoming local council election and the residents’ association endorsed an independent candidate.
Nationalist Party defector and former deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer showed up at the PN press conference on Thursday with another former Nationalist councillor, Sandra Camilleri, sparking some tension.
Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat addressed the media at The Strand. He said Labour would not present a manifesto for Sliema as it did in other localities because no proposals could be realistically achieved in a year.
The new council, he said, should simply get the “basic” work done and lay the foundations of good governance for the next council.
Dr Muscat said it was “farcical” for the government to dissolve the council simply because the PN lost its majority and could no longer use the council as the “playground of ministers”.
Dr Muscat said Labour councillors had the opportunity to unite with independent councillors to wreak havoc but made the responsible choice of trying to continue working. Reacting, the Nationalist Party addressed the press in Bisazza Street, fronted by PN executive president Marthese Portelli.
Dr Portelli slammed Dr Muscat for not saying that the PN took action against former mayor Nikki Dimech when allegations of wrongdoing surfaced.
She said Labour did not do the same when its Mosta mayor behaved incorrectly. Moreover, when the PN filed a motion of no confidence in Mr Dimech, Labour councillors abdicated from their duty to vote and the Labour media gave himexposure. Mr Engerer asked Dr Portelli whether she knew that a PN councillor who was also a candidate (Julian Galea) attempted to oust former mayor Joanna Gonzi.
Dr Portelli said she did not “think” that was the case. Journalists questioned Dr Portelli about the absence of Dr Gonzi and whether the PN considered her to be a failure.
Dr Portelli said the council was dissolved for legal reasons not because Dr Gonzi had failed.
Meanwhile, the residents’ association urged residents to vote for the right team adding that the previous council let residents down and wasted precious funds.
“Evidently, party politics did not guarantee a good working council, much less the best council possible. Only party political propaganda inhibits electors from voting for candidates from different parties.”
It singled out independent candidate Melody Morgan-Busher, an active member of the committee since its inception.