The government is considering a system whereby different towns and villages will be designated cultural capital for a year and will be the focus of a variety of cultural events by the central government, the prime minister said on Monday.

He was speaking during the launch by the Labour Party of an electoral manifesto for the local council elections and electoral programmes for each locality.

He said the manifesto and the electoral programmes were the fruit of long months of consultations.

The priorities, he said, were quality of life, quality time, quality administrative services, quality cleaning services and quality infrastructure. The environment, he said, was a priority for the councils.

Other areas included alternative means of transport, security, a caring society, an active community and culture.  

PN also launches programmes for local councils

The Nationalist Party also launched programmes for each of the local councils.

Party general secretary Clyde Pui said the PN had always manifestly supported local councils and it was now making some 2,000 proposals across the various localities. 

The proposals were centred on the need to strengthen communities and their identity, improve the environment and the quality of life, including the provision of day and night shelters in all localities and a system of community policing that helped the residents.