Birgu’s mayor, John Boxall, is one of Malta’s longest-serving mayors. Considering that being a mayor is a matter of liaising with the political party you represent, the political party you do not represent, the councillors, the parish church, the football clubs, the bocci club ... the list goes on ad nauseam; it’s a wonder that Mr Boxall has managed to do this for so long!
Mr Boxall says that finding what keeps him going is very easy - his love for Birgu. John Boxall was born and bred in Birgu, therefore he always understood what Birgu was going through and the stigma attached to it. In fact that it is why he got involved in his local community in the first place. He says, “There was a time, when after work I would just go straight home and stay there. This all changed when the Dominican Fr Mark Montebello, then not so well known as today; invited the people of Birgu to a meeting on the topic Il-Birgu abbandunat mis-sema l-isfel!? The statement irked me. I attended the public meeting, stood up and spoke. Birgu might be abandoned by all outsiders but it is not abandoned by its own people! I do not believe in merely talking. Actions are necessary. By the next day we had a football nursery set up - 42 boys attended the first session despite the gloomy weather. The people of Birgu trusted me with their sons. Unfortunately when I became mayor I gave up the nursery and this is something I still miss.
“In 1994, when the local councils were set up, the natural step to take was to contest the elections. I was immediately elected and at once started serving as mayor. When I became mayor I was full of enthusiasm. My horses were reins-free and constantly galloping. I’d expect an order issued today to have been followed by yesterday! The first target was to make the people of Birgu proud of their very unique historic city and of living in a “habitable museum”.
Birgu people are aware of the stigma attached to them and their city. Therefore I wanted to ensure that we Birgu people do not fall into the trap of believing what is said about us and thus assume that nothing can be done. During the 1994 Clean up the World campaign I invited the children of Birgu to do their bit for the city. Four hundred children turned up for the event.
A particular young man comes to mind. He is 20 years old now, so he cannot have been more than six years old during the Clean up the World campaign. He was sent to the event by his parents but he says that he still has very fond memories of the day. The Clean up the World campaign was one of the first steps towards making the people of Birgu proud of the city they live in.
He adds, “I think it is important that we included the children. As I have said, the city of Birgu can have negative connotations. I want children to grow up proud of the city where they live, conscious of their remarkable city. We won the Sebbah pajjizek campaign five times. As a local council we had to take tough decisions at times, however I feel that cleanliness is paramount and now we are reaping its benefits. Birgu is now viewed differently. Birgu has been transformed from a city considered to be in the pits to a highly sought after area to live in.
“A quick look at property prices shows that the price of property in Birgu has increased dramatically. It is a great source of satisfaction to have politicians from both sides of the chamber use Birgu as a good example. Around two weeks ago in collaboration with the US Embassy, the “Top Brass” Quintet, part of the US Navy Band performed at the Birgu Couvre Porte. I think that this all shows how people’s attitudes towards Birgu are changing. Previously Birgu would have never been considered the ideal setting for a cultural evening. We are also lucky because with Birgu being an ancient fortified city and a cradle of culture, membership of the European Union means access to more funds.”
Mr Boxall adds that after all these years at the helm of the local council, each day is still like a brand new adventure. Despite a population of only 3,000, Birgu is a very vibrant city. The needs of the city are huge - conservation and restoration projects are constantly going on. The telephone never stops ringing. Mr Boxall believes in a very hands-on approach. He has been elected to serve the people and the city; therefore it is not a rare sight to see the mayor bend down to pick rubbish or conversing with people in the street. His approach has worked. He has always been elected on the first count. Mr Boxall says, “Some time after I was elected mayor the first time, in July 1995 to be precise, I resigned from the local council. I refused a vote of no-confidence and resignation was the only option. However in 1998, I once again decided to contest the local elections. The people of Birgu clearly remembered my good work (although they only knew me as mayor for a short time) as I was re-elected with double the votes! In 2001, I re-contested the Local Council election in the name of the Malta Labour Party and I was re-elected Mayor of Citta Vittoriosa then again. This happened again in 2004 and in March 2007. I am now Mayor for this term which will end at the end of March 2010.”
The people of Birgu clearly have a lot of faith in John Boxall. And they are not the only ones! “In February 2006, I was unanimously elected Vice President of the AVEC association during the executive committee meeting of 32 delegates from 11 countries around Europe. During the AVEC general assembly held in Tours between 15 and 18 March, 2007, I was unanimously again reconfirmed as Vice President of this association. It is a great honour, indeed I consider it one of the highlights of my life as mayor, to be unanimously elected not once but twice as Vice President of this international association. AVEC (Alliance de Villes Européennes de Culture - Alliance of European Cultural Cities) is a not-for-profit association under French legislation, a project part financed by the European Union with the registered office being at the town hall of the city of Tours. The members are territorial authorities (cities, provinces regions…) who seek to make their heritage a useful tool for sustainable development. AVEC gives a lot of opportunities for networking and building contacts. Last year, in March 2007, thanks to AVEC, I was awarded a scholarship to attend a training course on sustainable development and sustainable tourism granted by the French Ministry for Culture and Communication held in four different cities around France. Moreover, at AVEC meetings I always encourage people to visit Malta - last October the AVEC executive meeting was held in Malta.”
Mr Boxall has no interest in participating in national politics. He says that he obviously adheres to some political principles, but these can evolve. His love for Birgu can never change. This love has sometimes led him into troubled waters. He was accused of stealing electricity and could have faced ten years in jail. However he has now been freed from all charges. On a different note, being such a dedicated mayor means that family time is reduced and hobbies are non-existent. Mr Boxall says, “I love football, yet I barely had time to follow the Euro Cup. I am often at the Local Council offices by 6am. I work, go to my actual work as a Senior Technical Officer with Go, drive back home and once more work for the Council. I would like to think that my work ethic inspires the people around me. And indeed I am surrounded by a great council and supportive staff. Presently, at the Local Council infrastructural projects, public cleaning, street lightning, public workers and all the workers assigned with the Local Council, including the IPSL workers and the worker that is assigned from the Environmental Landscape Consortium with the Council on a permanent basis are under my responsibility.”
Mr Boxall has worked wonders in Birgu. His love and passion shine through his work which he does with humility. Let him be a model to any young people aspiring to serve their town as councillors when older!