With all the nominations having been submitted, we are now nearing the final stretch towards yet another election, that of local councils in various localities and those for the European Parliament along with our EU partner countries, all on the same day.

My focus is on the local council elections, where persons known to be highly qualified for the job of mayor, vice mayors and councillors will stand for election in the localities which compose my two electoral districts. I am talking about San Gwann, Sliema and Msida.

Doing my rounds with some candidates, I noticed a difference from the situation we had three years ago. Let’s speak about the locality of Msida, where three years ago Labour won the majority of seats. Remember that the council is elected by majority of seats at the end of all counts, and not whichever party gets the most no 1 votes on the first count. In this case your number 1 vote is vital, as you will elect a mayor and vice mayor, as whoever polls the most number one votes on the first count, and comes from the majority party, then he gets the mayorship of the locality.

Msida is a locality that during these past three years has seen no real infrastructural jobs done. I did notice, however, parts of a street getting a new pavement done. The university area has been neglected in no uncertain terms, and residents there got a raw deal from this council. At times, even street sweeping was suspended.

Msida is a town that covers a lot of ground, from Swatar to nearby Pieta and Hamrun, running parallel to Ta’ Xbiex and Gzira, with many areas each having its distinctive problems. Swatar needs a better street management, better public transport service at certain times and a pharmacy, as it quietly goes about its living.

Then contrary to that you have the low lying valley where residents are still waiting for the storm water problem to be tackled seriously. I am informed that EU funds have been earmarked and fully tapped into. This is no consolation to residents as promises made must be kept. Promises are an electoral catch used by some, sometimes successfully, until you are caught napping by your own promises, and maybe change your mobile number or not grant any more appointments.

Residents in the upper part of Msida, beyond the cutting main road, do sometimes feel out of the picture. The presence of the local council is not felt here. Here a new council, headed by experienced PN candidates, could discuss the possibility of various sub committees taking care of the area, with a hearing ear directly to the top.

Allow me to congratulate two football teams that come from my districts, and that have managed to top their respective sections in the third division. I am referring to the football clubs of Gharghur and Gzira united. Their promotion to the second division has been a merited one, and I wish them well. A big thank you goes to all those persons who keep on really helping these clubs, the volunteers and staff, who do not only pay lip service.

Again, one should combine councils with sport, many of which do have some sort of cooperation agreements, so much needed in this sphere.

So, a last message to the Msida people. Voting in this locality is a must, and get back the experienced people who have had the experience in the opposition , and are now looking at a different scenario.

Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP