At the Sliema local council meeting held on 9 May, two proposals by Alternattiva Demokratika’s local councillor Michael Briguglio (who is AD spokesman for local councils) were defeated, due to the opposition of the Nationalist councillors.

Mr Briguglio’s first proposal was related to the recent report by the Ombudsman regarding the consultation process for the local plans that were approved by the government. The Ombudsman said the consultation process for the local plans had not been exhausted, as laid down by law.

In view of this, Mr Briguglio proposed that Sliema local council ask the government and Mepa to suspend the local plans for Sliema and restart the consultation process.

The second proposal called for a three-year moratorium in Sliema for large-scale development and commercial development in residential areas.

The proposals were supported by Labour councillors Martin Debono and Marianne Aquilina and opposed by the five Nationalist councillors who were at the meeting – Mayor Marina Arrigo, deputy mayor Albert Bonello Du Puis and councillors Nikki Dimech, Luke Vella and Julian Galea.

On the other hand, all the local councillors agreed with a proposal by the Nationalist councillors to hold a meeting with the Prime Minister on the construction situation in Sliema.

In his reaction to the council’s decisions, Mr Briguglio said: “It is clear that the Nationalist majority has no intention of opposing the large-scale and commercial development that is causing so much stress on Sliema residents.”