We have recently started to hear about ratings given to each local council. This, after Alfred Sant goes to the locality, reads a prepared memo, and addresses the press. Then come the percentages, with an obvious slant towards the Labour-led councils, who score the highest points.

However, scoring good points does not mean delivery. I put forward the following scenario. A Labour council promises to do, say, four projects in three years. They end up doing three projects and therefore they should score 75 per cent. Then take a Nationalist council, which does not believe in these points scheme, and proposes 10 projects, but does, say, five projects. It then scores 50 per cent according to the Labour’s calculator. Far below the Labour led council. But, it’s a play on percentages. Would a voter like to have five projects done or three?

This simple example proves the mockery of this political marketing based on percentage points. God forbid government departments are assessed on this basis, rather than on total productivity.

Having Labour on an intense campaign mode in different localities, the voting on 10 March comes to light. Here, electors are invited to go out and cast their vote for their council. It is evident that these elections are not given the importance they merit.

On quite a number of occasions, I found voters choosing not to vote, as this makes news, gives them a superior hand, until they need something locally. Today a council is there to stay, it will be elected with or without all votes cast, and is an important link in today’s society.

Should these councils shut down, many people will have a void that nobody can cover. To criticise in sometimes harsh words is not fair to the many voluntary people who go out of their way and give up most of their free time to be of service to a locality.

They deserve all the support. Constructive criticism is something all councillors accept, and, in fact want from their house visits.

Again, staff at local councils is at times treated harshly by the very resident. They are employees who care and try their best. The shouting policy is a method long gone by and forgotten, as it was counter-productive.

The non-voting segment could also protest in these elections, as some people do not bother to go out to vote. The Nationalist Party has fielded an array of candidates in each locality. And should ever somebody fail in his job then, a choice within the party still exists.

Casting a vote in local elections is a democratic right as in general elections. Ironically, many people around the world do not have the right of vote, being either suppressed by governments or for other reasons. We do have it, and choose not to vote.

Well, probably until you need some service from your council.

My visits within the ninth and 10th district localities take me to Gzira and Gharghur. Here, I saw a lot of work on roads already completed, and a general state of the town or village that is much better than three years ago. There is always more to do, but if a council has left the place better than it was, then it has succeeded. Set aside the percentage points of Labour, and compare this time and three years ago. Surely the new roads make a difference. Maybe your pavement has not arrived yet, but in time it will too.

In Gharghur residents complain about the road leading up to the locality, the one that lies within the borders of Swieqi, just beneath the Busietta Garden apartments. This road is under the responsibility of Swieqi, but heavily used by the Gharghur residents. It is the only stretch of road untarmacked in the vicinity. On both sides the roads have been redone. It could be a good workable idea if the three components of central government and both councils to agree on a tripartite agreement to do the road up.

A fourth component could be the Busietta Gardens, as surely they would enjoy the road being done

up. It’s a basic idea that can be developed.

While Kappara still lies in waiting for work to be carried out, residents again ask if they have a right to a flowered garden, or not? Maybe this year more water will be allocated by the San Gwann council, which seems to have taken long to act on some ADT recommendations. Wherever this has stopped, all they are asking is some action, although late, it will be much appreciated.

Again, here’s urging everybody to go out and cast their vote, on 10 March, in favour of a PN candidate, as this is the best choice for your locality.

Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP