Local councils have been with us for 15 years. In my opinion they have been a positive experience since they have relieved the central government of various administrative burdens. They have also given people the opportunity to involve themselves in their locality’s management and, above all, they have given residents hands-on service.

Some councils have performed exceptionally well and have definitely left their mark. However, a few councils have not performed well enough to bring about the desired change and improvement in their locality.

Past and present councillors must be thanked and commended for the sterling service they offered. It is important that we keep in mind that these people are offering their services free of charge. Indeed a very good deed in this day and age.

Need for reform

After 15 years I believe that it is time to take stock, analyse and reform. Hats off to the Prime Minister and his parliamentary secretary for having taken action and for having involved the public at large in the subject.

There are two changes that I’d like to suggest – one is related to the frequency with which the elections are held and the other with the way the votes are counted.

Frequency of elections

This country is being given a very dangerous overdose of politics. The way things stand we have to go through an election every year. Although only one third of the population is involved at any one time, when one considers the size of the country, it is very difficult for the other two thirds not to get involved in the proceedings. In my opinion this situation cannot go on any longer since it is not democratically healthy and also because it can easily bring about political apathy. Moreover, the whole process is a very expensive one.

What’s more, a three-year term is hardly sufficient for a council to perform and implement.

I suggest that local council elections should be held every four years and that half the country should go to the polls at any one time rather than one third. This way we would have a two-year break from elections.

Counting of votes

I find the way local council election votes are counted as too dramatic, too lengthy and extremely expensive. I am of the opinion that we have reached an acceptable level of political maturity and hence I suggest that the counting of the votes should take place in the polling stations themselves.

I understand that this process may pose a strain on the larger localities, however I see no reason why all the localities should vote on the same day. If necessary, the election process can easily be split over say two weekends, with one quarter of the population voting on one weekend and the other quarter the following weekend.

Distinction

We must keep in mind that these are only local council elections and people should vote to elect those individuals who they think would be most suited to manage their locality. Results of local council elections should be analysed as such and should not be confused either with the performance of the central government or the general elections.

Noel Muscat

SWIEQI