Former parliamentary secretary Chris Said was instrumental in ensuring constant dialogue between the government and the Local Councils Association, its president Michael Cohen said yesterday.

Expressing appreciation for Dr Said’s work over the past two years, Mr Cohen and association executive secretary Jimmy Magro described the former parliamentary secretary as “an accessible” person.

Dr Said resigned last week from his government post after an appeals court ordered the police to prosecute him for perjury. He has protested his innocence claiming the whole affair was sparked by a genuine mistake while testifying in a custody case.

“His help in the past two years was important to encourage consultation between the association and government,” the two officials said.

The statement is particularly significant since Mr Cohen is also the Labour mayor of Kalkara. Mr Magro had held the post of general secretary with the Labour Party.

The association expressed the hope that the work started by Dr Said, which has now been absorbed by the Office of the Prime Minister, would continue.