The regional park project at Mgarr ix-Xini, which is being built by the Sannat and Xewkija local councils, will be included in a larger project for the protection of Gozitan valleys, when Labour is in government, Dr Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Speaking in Gozo, Labour leader Alfred Sant said the Labour-led council in Sannat had fufilled 84 per cent of its electoral promises. He said the council had repaired roads that fell under its remit, resurfaced a number of others, and put in place new pavements in the Ta’ Seguna housing estates.

The council, he said, had also organised educational campaigns on the environment and had introduced various waste collection services such as skips on wheels, bulky refuse collection, domestic waste collection, waste separation and road cleaning.

The council also introduced road safety measures to protect children who attend the primary school on Sannat Road and a new access point to the school from a secondary road.

Dr Sant said that the council was also involved in the conservation of a lime kiln which will be restored and it had also signed a twinning agreement with Pisoniano, in the province of Rome.

Turning to next month’s elections, he said the council would be strengthening the action committee founded by the council to improve educational opportunities for children. Other proposals include the improvement of school transport in the area, the surfacing of more roads, maintenance and environmental education.

Earlier in the day, Dr Sant addressed a social activity in Victoria where he reiterated the Labour Party’s promise to subsidise the helicopter service and to invest in tourism projects to create job opportunities for Gozitans.

The Labour Leader also visited the respite centre for disabled persons at the Arka Foundation in Ghajnsielem. The centre was opened in 2000 and can accommodate 32 persons in 19 rooms, offering a variety of services including short and long stays.

The centre’s director, Mgr Manuel Curmi, said the centre employs 15 full time and nine part time personnel and needs around Lm100,000 to operate.