“The residents’ voice takes precedence over partisan pique and the people's interests should be safeguarded come what may,” declared Alternattiva Demokratika Chairman Harry Vassallo.

Speaking at the party’s headquarters in Sliema, Dr Vassallo explained that the AD candidates for the upcoming local council election can also be counted on to work in the interest of the people and not to garner support for the party.

“Over the last three years, the AD has shown its dedication to reduce partisan pique within local councils and make room for the real issues at hand,” he said. Dr Vassallo claimed that The Green Party councillors have been approached by residents who feel their needs are not being met.

“The AD disregards political alliance and works in favour of the residents,” he reiterated. The AD chairman said his party considers every local council to be different and therefore the people have to be made to feel that their rights are being safeguarded.

Dr Vassallo gave examples of local councils were partisan politics were made more of a priority than the issues that affected the people. “In Sannat, the pique is such that work has been paralysed. Difficult decisions regarding projects that can threaten the residents’ quality of life have not been taken, to the detriment of the people,” he said.

He said that the Sliema local council, of Nationalist Party majority, has always been afraid to go against government policy. “In this case, the PN was more important that the residents and therefore this locality registered a record number of people who failed to collect their voting document,” Dr Vassallo continued.

In Birkirkara, it was the AD councillors who helped save a playing field from the hands of developers and the party's presence in this council has helped the residents feel like a community working towards a common goal, the AD chairman said.

Dr Vassallo also made reference to the Lija local council where the AD was the only party that stood up for residents. He gave as an example the factories on the outskirts of the village that pollute the area.

“AD in local councils is a guarantee of respect for the residents, democracy and above all, accountability and transparency,” said Dr Vassallo. He concluded that the AD candidates will work towards sustainable development, social justice and opportunities for every sector of society.