The concept of local councils, introduced by a Nationalist Administration, has undoubtedly had a major effect on all Maltese citizens. As residents in our respective localities we turn to these councils for the sustainable development of our immediate surroundings.

... community development is only possible when responsible and dedicated councillors are elected to serve- Caroline Galea

Elected councillors have a number of wide-ranging responsibilities that have recently been increased, hopefully enabling them to perform at a higher and more efficient level in their community. This determined decentralisation of power from central to local government has served to confirm the Nationalist Party’s constant ideological belief of empowering residents and ensuring social inclusion of all residents in our communities.

Some 19 years down the line, local councils have, against all odds, established themselves as the seat of local government in no fewer than 68 localities in Malta and Gozo. Although initially met with a myriad of reactions, local councils have grown despite the sometimes obvious and somewhat crass resistance.

The reform implemented sometime ago further served to strengthen the operation of these councils providing them with valuable tools and valuable financial aid to implement changes in sectors such as urban development, the environment, conservation of energy, hands-on appreciation of culture and heritage and social inclusion, among others.

It has been a long road in the relative short history of councils that has seen a number of residents rising to the occasion and offering their services in their community. We have seen councillors come and go, some offering sterling work and becoming firm favourites while others hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons!

However, all in all, the introduction of these councils has been an unparalleled success, which has seen the concept of local government reaching out to the heart of communities by providing services that all residents use and by continuously striving to improve operations to enhance the daily lives of all residents, irrespective of their status or beliefs.

Mayors and local councillors certainly have their work cut out for them and, with half the localities in Malta facing elections on Saturday, the pressure is on to convince the sometimes reluctant electorate that community development is only possible when responsible and dedicated councillors are elected to serve.

For this to happen the responsibility falls squarely on residents to collect their vote, decide on their candidate of choice and cast their vote on the day. Anything less would be an abdication of responsibility towards the locality and the residents of the community.

I have now served on a local council for the past five years. It has been a positive experience for me and I am honoured to have had the privilege of representing the residents who elected me.

Despite serving on a local council in the absolute minority I can attest that, with the well-being of the community in mind, any council can work with dedication towards the improvement of the locality. Having said that, councillors in the minority in any local council are nothing short of unsung heroes as they struggle to bridge the gap between their beliefs and the convictions of the majority.

Of course, one cannot hide from the fact that councillors are ultimately elected on party tickets. With more than half of local councils having a Labour majority, I feel that there is a growing concern as to the future sustainable management of these councils. I say this because I cannot help remembering the Leader of the Opposition’s words way back in September of last year warning all Labour mayors and councillors of his intent to pull his support for their candidature should they not abide by party guidelines. I found his comments exceptionally curious at the time but eventually understanding what this probably meant.

Joseph Muscat’s warning was a clarion call to us all on how the Labour Party navigates. Both the Nationalist Party and the PL have had councils and councillors with disappointing track records but the difference between the parties emerges in their reactions.

On the one hand, you have the PN being proactive in the face of such uncomfortably unforeseen difficulties and energetically seeking resignations where this was necessary.

On the other hand, the PL preferred to let such councils hopelessly flounder rather than risk rocking the partisan boat. This, of course, to the detriment of residents in these hard-hit localities who must have been left wondering why some councils, irrespective of their political majority, were successfully securing extra funding for local improvement while they were being left to face degeneration.

Dr Muscat’s ambitions clearly leave no space and time for the improvement of the quality of life of these families!

The PN’s electoral manifesto for the local elections sums up what local councils are all about. Infrastructural improvements are an obvious priority but further emphasis is placed on social services and innovation.

Councils have to start looking beyond urban and rural regeneration and focus more on the social aspects of the community and the needs of our ever-changing families. Local councils in Malta and Gozo have to adapt and adjust to these needs to ensure that our localities are a true reflection of the needs of all our residents.

I take this opportunity to wish all candidates contesting the local elections the very best and augur that the best choices are made for the improvement of our communities.

info@carolinegalea.com