Residents in Swieqi are already being plagued by vandalism and unruly behaviour at the start of the summer season, Momentum said in a statement Wednesday.

The party said that residents in various parts of the town are being deprived of their nightly sleep due to the rowdiness of groups of revellers in the early hours of the morning, both in the streets and from some Airbnb blocks "where there is constant nightly disruption and the landlord refuses to own the situation."

Momentum said that car vandalism continues to "top the polls," while scenes of intoxicated people "knocked out of their senses and sleeping on pavements" are becoming a common occurrence.

Momentum leader Arnold Cassola, who is contesting the 9th and 10th districts, said these situations, which are also characteristic of places such as Sliema and Gżira, have to be curbed with more preventive policing patrols during the night, strong action against all those who put out their waste on the wrong day, and on the spot fines handed to those contravening the laws on noise disturbance.

Momentum said that local councils should be given both the authority and the proper financial means to tackle such issues.

"As for government, it has to stop marketing Malta as a party island where anything goes. Quality tourism means marketing our country for its cultural and historical gems and for its natural beauty," Cassola said.