Senglea mayor Joe Casha explained that the council was informed that part of the promenade had given way on 10 December. Since then, the council contacted several authorities that kept insisting that the responsibility was not theirs and that the council should contact another authority.

After going to and fro from one authority to the other, the council, hoping that the situation would be resolved, wrote to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

In its reply, the Prime Minister’s office said that the responsibility was not his and informed the council that the promenade was the direct responsibility of Compet-

itiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea.

However, a reply from this ministry has not yet been forthcoming.

Mr Casha said the work would cost an estimated Lm70,000, which the council could not afford.

He said a number of residents have often complained about the state of the Senglea promenade and the danger it poises for them, especially their children.

Mr Casha said Cottonera residents expect a better and more positive attitude from the authorities.

On his part, Opposition leader Alfred Sant, as chairman of the Labour Joint Committee for the Cottonera area, said the Prime Minister was duty bound to see to the problem as soon as possible.

This should be done even more since he is a member of parliament elected from the Cottonera electoral district.

Also present for the press conference were Labour MPs Joe Mizzi, Stefan Buontempo and Chris Agius as well as the mayors of Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Kalkara as well as several Senglea residents.