Updated 4.50pm with PN councillors' reaction
The Gżira Local Council will remain shut in protest after a contractor allegedly tried to run over councillor Jeremy Cardona with his vehicle.
Mr Cardona has filed a police report claiming a ruthless contractor tried to run him over in broad daylight on Wednesday.
The driver, who was identified to the police, revved up and swerved his vehicle, almost hitting him as he was walking along The Strand in Gżira, corner with Triq Belvedere.
Watch: 'Contractor tried to run me over' - Gżira councillor claims
The council said it was convinced that this act "occurred due to the egoism and
negligence of certain contractors working within the construction sector", which were causing considerable inconveniences to residents.
An urgent council meeting was convened on Thursday during which the council decided to keep its doors shut as from Friday until Tuesday, ending its protest with a public demonstration on Tuesday at 6.30pm in Sir Patrick Stuart Street,
Gżira. Gżira has seen rampant construction in recent years, with residents often lamenting of a 'free-for-all' attitude.
Times of Malta is informed that the developer in question has had a series of incidents with wardens.
Meanwhile, the Malta Developers' Association pledged to take the "necessary disciplinary action" if a councillor's claims that a contractor tried to run him over with his car are proven right.
In a statement, the MDA claimed the incident was not related to any specific development, but it was more of a personal tiff between the man described as a “contractor” and the councillor.
The alleged aggressor is a member of the developers' lobby.
PN councillors say residents can't remain 'hostages'
Gżira's PN councillors said no act of intimidation would deter them from continuing working for the good of their locality.
In a statement, Wayne Hewitt, Graziella Attard Previ and Jeremy Cardona said they had filed a motion which had been unanimously approved calling on the authorities to provide adequate protection and security to all council members and employees.
In the absence of a long-term plan for construction in Gżira, which caters for the interests of residents and the environment, in the coming weeks the PN councillors will make a series of proposals to ensure residents do not remain "hostages" in their localities.
They urged residents to relay their complaints to them to try to tackle the problem caused because of a lack of planning.