Complete overhaul of PL candidates for Mosta council elections

The Labour Party has carried out a complete overhaul of its candidates contesting the local council elections in Mosta.

The local council elections will be held in 35 localities, including Sliema, on 10 March.

Undoubtedly, it will be an uphill struggle for the PL to gain the majority of votes in Mosta, a local council afflicted by much criticism over its work. This has led PL leader Joseph Muscat to carry a complete overhaul of his candidates in the locality, with the group now practically made up of new faces.

Addressing the media this morning at Ta' Mlit housing estate, Muscat again admitted that the Labour-led council had failed its residents.

"The local council didn't work enough for its residents. There was no team spirit among the Labour councilors, while the PN councilors did not collaborate either," Muscat said. Surrounded by the new group of candidates, he added that he took the decisions "which had to be taken".

Muscat was referring to his decision to inform Mosta mayor Paul Chetcuti Caruana not to contest the local council elections on a Labour ticket.

Asked what he will do to avoid a repetition of the saga, Muscat said the PL will not be afraid to take "the unpopular decisions" and that local councils will always be subjected to the people's judgement.

Muscat also unveiled the Labour's proposed project for the regeneration of the Ta' Mlit area. If approved, it is estimated that the project will cost some €700,000.

"For years government has abandoned the housing estates, treating the people as if they were second class residents. Allocating small amounts of money to improve the common areas is too little, too late," Muscat said.

Finances from the local government, the local council and the private sector will cover the costs of the project, one of a number of pilot projects part of the PL's electoral programme.

"Like government forked out €4 million to refurbish Alan Camilleri's office, it shouldn't be difficult for it to find €700,000," Muscat said, referring to the €3.87 million refurbishment of the former Institute of Healthcare for the temporary relocation of Malta Enterprise, the government's investment arm.

The project includes the regener

ation of three parts of the estate: the construction of a childcare centre, to accommodate around 30 children, the creation of a landscape area, organised parking spaces, the construction of a 5-aside football pitch and increased recreational spaces for all generations.