Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant yesterday stated that the Labour-led council in Hamrun implemented 82 per cent of its electoral manifesto, even though the central administration had hindered its work. The Opposition Leader visited the town as part of the local council electoral campaign.

Hamrun mayor Dr Luciano Busuttil showed him round work carried out in Atocia Street. Dr Sant praised the Labour councillors for the work carried in the neighbourhood and said that this work was an example of how the Labour-led council factually improved residents’ lives.

The MLP leader said the council has embarked on a road-resurfacing programme in Harmun, has rehabilitated Atocia Street and paved a good number of roads. The council has also refurbished a number of gardens and carried other road works in the locality.

Besides, said Dr Sant, the Hamrun local council has also organised several cultural activities which included a free refresher course for children who failed their Junior Lyceum entry exams, free basic computer courses and courses in arts and crafts. The council has also organised cultural trips and a literature competition for children. The Labour leader said the council has also invested in the public library as it has bought a good number of books for the library and was working on extending its opening hours.

Dr Busuttil said the council had not succeeded in beginning to move its premises to the old market site. The project consists in a 160-car underground park, a public garden and the council’s new offices. The project, said Dr Busuttil, has been postponed because the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) has not as yet given its go-ahead. Dr Busuttil said the council needed new premises because it was paying thousands of liri in rent for the premises, which used to be the home of the Blessed Dun Gorg Preca.

Dr Sant said the council would remain close to the people in the next three years and promised that it would fulfil its promises.