While appreciating MLP Leader Alfred Sant’s interest in Sliema, himself being an ex-Slimiz, calling our locality “Sliema the ugly” (TMID 12 April) hurts Sliema’s residents and Sliema PN councillors. Constructive criticism is always welcome. However, the article calls for clarifications. One should verify facts and not rely blindly on second-hand information.

It is not true that Rudolphe Street was closed just to accommodate road repairs.

New water mains were installed beneath the pavements, replacing the previous ones, which had been there for 70 years, risking having parts of Sliema without water next summer. New telephone cables were also installed.

The road was then dug up and stabilised before tarmac was laid. All this was done within the specified time schedule.

In the case of Rudolphe Street, residents were informed personally that the road was to be closed, and the council issued a press release during the third week of January which was carried in the newspapers and appeared on the council’s website (www.sliema-malta.com).

Furthermore, all Sliema residents were informed through the council’s magazine, which was distributed in February, that road works would be complete by mid-April. In fact the road was open for traffic on 8 April. All the appropriate signage was put up in accordance with traffic regulations as stipulated by ADT.

The council also continuously monitors and regulates crane permits in such a way that roads are not blocked without motorists having alternative routes. It has also taken measures to encourage contractors to expedite work. It is true that construction does not stop in the summer months, but the council stops all permits for four weeks during the Christmas period, despite stiff opposition from contractors.

Dr Sant also claimed that “politicians ally themselves with construction and other barons to despoil Malta”. It would be a good idea to mention names. He relies on claims that “the problems of the place arise from the power of the purse”. The Leader of the Opposition should substantiate such claims once he chooses to repeat them.

Qui-Si-Sana residents should note that Dr Sant stated that: “If anything... the commercial centre should be extended towards Tigne and not shifted”. Shall we take this to be Labour’s official policy? This is in sharp contrast to what residents are led to believe by the Sliema Labour councillors. Is this not pussyfooting over the Qui-Si-Sana issue? How is the Qui-Si-Sana Residents Association going to react to this statement?

Does the Labour Party encourage its supporters to use their political clout? Maybe it is interesting for your readers to note that in 2003, the Labour Party presented four candidates for the Sliema local elections, and sent a leaflet to all households promising that if Sliema council is led by Labour, Sliema would be heaven on earth.

The MLP promised that construction would go on during the summer months and also that it was in favour of an underground car park in Sliema. Maybe one day Labour councillors will tell us the exact location.

What the Labour Party did not say, however, is that even if all four candidates had been elected, Labour would still not have had a majority on the nine-seat council to implement its electoral programme.

If this is not insulting the intelligence of Sliema residents, then we do not know what does.

A. Bonello Dupuis, G. Mizzi,

A. Mallia, M. Pace Ross,

I. Portanier and L. Vella

Sliema PN councilors