An embellishment project at Birzebbuga, which the short-lived Labour government of the 1990s had started, was still unfinished, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday during a visit to the seaside village.

Qajjenza, which borders Marsaxlokk, was still untouched by the project and Labour Party candidates at the forthcoming local election are promising to urge the central government to resume the work. Dr Sant said a Labour government would conclude the project, in collaboration with the council.

Birzebbuga council, which has a Labour majority of councillors, came in for praise by Dr Sant, who said the council there had implemented 88 per cent of its electoral manifesto.

The Labour leader visited the village as part of the local government electoral campaign and was shown round the road works by Birzebbuga mayor Joseph Farrugia. Dr Sant praised the Labour councillors for their commitment in fulfilling their electoral promises, especially those regarding the surfacing of various roads. He added that the roads which had not been included in the surfacing programme had been given regular maintenance and patching works in a service which was carried out on a four-day-week basis.

Dr Sant said the council, in spite of its limited financial resources had improved the public cleansing services in the locality. In fact, he said, public gardens, sports facilities, open spaces and central strips were all kept in good condition. The council also involved itself in several cultural activities which included a highly popular summer school and courses in computer studies, languages and Maltese crafts.

This year’s local election manifesto pledges to continue road works in various streets on a year-by-year basis. The Labour manifesto is also promising the upkeep of gardens, playing fields, open spaces, railings, ornamental lighting and

benches.

Dr Sant added that a Labour central government would support the council’s suggestion of setting up an entity, which would coordinate infrastructural work between government and local councils. Such an entity, said Dr Sant, would improve efficiency and eliminate waste of public money.