A few days ago, the Nationalist Party executive committee confirmed that I should contest the upcoming general election on the ninth district, comprising Gharghur, Swieqi, Msida, San Gwann and Ta’ Xbiex.

This apart from the traditional 10th district, now consisting of Sliema, St Julian’s, Pembroke and Gzira.

Having never really stopped my contacts with people, I did take a closer look at Ta’ Xbiex lately. Many years ago it was made up of smart houses, villas, ambassadors’ residences, a lovely yacht marina, gardens, and there was an easy way of life.

Going through the streets, I thought that I was going through three different Ta’ Xbiex centres within the same locality, small as it can be.

Apartments have been built in some streets and the number of showrooms and offices has increased, thus giving another facet to this locality.

The housing estate seems to have caught the council’s attention, as it’s quite well-kept, while a total lack of facilities for children is evident. There is no proper playing field and any facilities such as the ones on the shore are anything but modern, or safe, or pleasing to the eye.

A promenade that has stayed as it was for decades needs a certain upgrading, and here the central government should take over and do the job. It’s a lovely promenade, with nice views, and leads to a garden that has seen better days. One notices that it’s a nice walk during the day, but is marred by certain activities in the evening.

One adjacent road is cause for concern to many, especially the residents of the area. There, loitering is rampant. That this is allowed in a residential zone is shameful.

I did not see any warden prowling around Ta’ Xbiex, checking out licences, or seeing if a car was parked exactly on a white line, or had half a metre on a yellow line. Wardens, part of our education system, should be patrolling these areas daily. There are a lot of contraventions taking place.

Police presence must be seen, felt and enhanced. Maybe a sub police station should be opened there, as surely, residents need to feel secure. Recently, children were followed into their homes by foreign men. One should not be scared to go out in one’s own town.

Certain Italian towns were clamping down on the oldest trade in the world, by going through the number plates of clients stopping over, creating traffic jams and blocking streets in the process.

My suggestion is to allow only residents to use such roads. No stopping should be allowed and cctv cameras should be installed. That bye-law as proposed by a PN councillor and approved by the central government should be enforced.

One notices buildings left unfinished, maybe a casualty of the situation. I would prefer finishing the job, getting decent folk into the apartments, and giving the road a new look. All should do their part, as this locality is a nice place.

On another point, one cannot but comment on what is happening at the General Workers’ Union. This is a mirror of the Labour Party. Just imagine what would they do if, due to some non-voters or floating voters, the Labour Party will be entrusted to govern by default.

We are not perfect, but when you see and evaluate the Opposition, anybody with a sense of what is happening would certainly vote PN next time.

My reckoning is that the PN will increase its number of votes next time round, as the Labour-GWU tandem does not work, not even in Opposition. In-fighting is what brought down the 1996 Labour administration. It has continued during these past eight years, goes on today, there is more to come, and will never stop.

Ours, by contrast, is peaceful living, in a working environment that helps people improve their way of life all the time.

What a wonderful thing to live under a Nationalist government.