Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday said the Nationalist Party-led Gzira local council had fulfilled only 35 per cent of the promises it had made prior to the last round of elections at the locality three years ago.

Dr Sant was speaking during a visit to the town in the run up to the upcoming local election there. He said the council, led by a majority of councillors elected on behalf of the Nationalist Party, had not kept most of the promises it made to residents prior to the last council election.

Speaking about Nazju Ellul Street, Dr Sant said the Nationalist councillors had promised, among other things, the construction of a rainwater culvert between Guze Miceli Street and Sliema Road as well as the resurfacing and landscaping of the road as well as the widening of pavements, zebra crossings and pelican lights along the road. However, none of this was done, he said.

Another promise which was not kept is the promised reconstruction of Reggie Miller Street which connects Sliema Road to Rue D’Argens.

Dr Sant said a promise that PN councillors have been making since 2001 and which was never kept was the embellishment of the Gzira front.

He said bring-in sites in Gzira do not exist and the promise of a youth centre was never kept.

Dr Sant said the MLP councillors were promising to continue working to upgrade several roads and pavements throughout the locality in order to improve the quality of life of Gzira residents.

In a counter-startement, Gzira mayor Albert Rizzo said that in this legislature the Gzira council had carried out a lot of work in spite of the non-collaboration of Labour councillors.

He listed a number of projects that were carried out by the council on its own and others that were done in collaboration with the central government.

Mr Rizzo said that contrary to what Dr Sant said, work had also been carried out on the sea front. The council had also carried out sterling work in the social sector. What Dr Sant should have said in terms of percentages is that Labour councillors contributed zero per cent.

He also challened Dr Sant to a debate on Super One TV.