Introducing the 97 MLP candidates contesting the local council elections on 12 June, Dr Sant said that the candidates represented a balance between youth and experience and noted that 16 of the candidates are Gozitan.
Most of all he expressed his satisfaction at the fact that the party was, for the first time, presenting a team of candidates for Safi. On this matter he condemned the negative comments issued by the Nationalist mayor, saying that he was afraid of a democratic election.
The MLP leader pledged his support towards council work that exploited EU programmes for the benefit of the people.
Dr Sant gave examples of the success achieved by councils with an MLP majority. The Luqa council had not only overcome the Lm 90,000 debts it had found when entering office, but also managed to implement some 85-90 per cent of its programme.
He said this contrasted sharply with the sort of management that characterised local councils with a Nationalist majority. He gave an example by referring to a culvert tender issued by the Xaghra local council, saying that the council had paid some Lm21,000 for works that should not have cost more than Lm 7,000.
He also accused the Xaghra mayor of incompetence, claiming that the mayor had called off the signing of a twinning agreement with the Italian village of Offida a mere week before it was scheduled to take place.
Yesterday Dr Sant visited work carried out by the Paola local council, saying that local councils with a Labour majority will be implementing two major electoral promises within the first 100 days of their appointment.
He said the MLP led Paola council had implemented 85 per cent of its electoral programme despite the fact that the nationalist government had cut some Lm11,000 from the council’s funds.
Paola mayor Raymond Attard gave an overview of the council’s work over the past three years. He said the council had invested heavily in education, keeping in close contact with the heads of the schools in their localities and organised a number of educational courses.
Mr Attard explained that the council’s biggest investment so far was in the council’s premises which, he added were did not have access for elderly or disabled persons.