In a press conference in Attard, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that its candidates are emphasising that local councils should truly belong to residents. AD said that voting green is the best way to ensure that residents’ rights are voiced in local councils.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson and Sliema Local Council candidate said: “This 10th March, I invite those with goodwill to vote for local councils which truly belong to residents. Not for councils that are controlled by big developers’ lobbies that are destroying our councils. Not for councils that are characterised with partisan bickering and personal feuds. But for councils that look ahead and give priority to the resident’s quality of life.”
“Alternattiva Demokratika’s policy goes beyond the PNPL partisan divide, and AD councillors always work so that the resident’s rights come first and foremost. For councils which truly belong to residents, one can choose with courage and a sense of optimism Alternattiva Demokratika’s councillors. I urge voters to continue voting other candidates which truly want to work for their locality.”
“As Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika, and as a Sliema local council candidate I wish to thank the other AD candidates who chose to get down to work: Ralph Cassar (Attard); Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer (St. Julian’s); Simon Galea (St. Paul’s Bay); Solange Sant Fournier (Swieqi); Leonard Schembri (Gzira); Michael A. Bajada (Munxar); Henrik Piski (Qormi); Robert Callus (Mosta); Andre’ Vella (Hal Balzan); and Michael Briguglio (Sliema).”
Ralph Cassar, AD Secretary General and Attard local council candidate said: “For years AD always worked in favour of residents. It spoke about all unsustainable development around Malta and Gozo; including the disastrous Governmental decision in 2006 of increasing building zones and height limitations in places such as Attard, Swieqi, Sliema, Gzira and Balzan. AD made various proposals on the need of open spaces even in zones such as St. Paul’s Bay and about the need for environmental protection and resident facilities in Gozo such as Munxar. Over the years AD councillors worked to defend open spaces from development, worked to start introducing pedestrian facilities for bicycle users and made pressure to halt unsustainable development. AD councillors give due importance to community facilities such as libraries, cultural and sport activities and emphasise the importance for safer roads for the use of the whole community.”
Carmel Cacopardo, AD spokesperson on sustainable development and Home Affairs, said: “AD is presenting candidates who deserve a vote because through their work they will give a definition to practical policies which seek to better the resident’s quality of life. In every locality AD candidates will uphold environmental policies which should be an integral part of local councils. The global environmental impact can be mitigated if we work on a local level. As we are mitigating the environmental impact we are improving the residents’ quality of life in the process. Think Global, act Local.”
“That is why AD is adopting policies in favour of alternative energy in public facilities, gardens, roads and Council offices. That is why Alternattiva Demokratika councillors give importance to environmental criteria in the process of green public procurement.”
“The candidates being presented by AD give priority to sustainable mobility. They encourage the use of public transport which has to be used and developed in order to offer an alternative to private car use. The local councils can give a contribution to the improvement of air quality on a local level through an efficient public transport service on a regional level so the number of cars on the street is diminished. All this leads to the roads being given back to the residents and to remove the excessive dangers for those who those who make use of bicycles for short and long trips.”
“The candidates being presented by AD see an important role for local councils in the implementation of climate change strategies. In particular AD insists that local councils are more actively involved in policies that mitigate the problem of flooding.”
“AD is the only party that is conscious of the sustainable development impact caused by the building industry which brought about 70,000 empty residential properties around Malta and Gozo. These empty properties are leaving a negative impact on the local communities because these are requiring them to dedicate a part of their finances for services in the zones where there are empty properties. These empty properties in Malta are equivalent to nine times the size of Birkirkara, which means that the expenses that go for roads infrastructure, lighting, pavements and sewage and any other general infrastructure would be much more useful if used for areas without empty properties.”
Il-Kunsilli Lokali ghandhom verament jappartjenu lir-residenti – AD
F’konferenza stampa f’Attard, Alternattiva Demokratika qalet li l-kandidati taghha jaghmlu enfasi fuq li l-kunsilli lokali ghandhom verament jappartjenu lir-residenti. AD qalet li l-vot favur l-AD huwa l-ahajr moghod kif nizguraw li d-drittijiet tar-residenti jkollhom lehen fil-kunsill lokali.
Michael Briguglio, Chairperson tal-AD u kandidat fuq tas-Sliema qal: “Fl-10 ta’ Marzu, nistieden lil dawk ta’ rieda tajba sabiex jivvutaw ghal kunsilli verament tar-residenti. Mhux ghal kunsilli li huma mahkuma minn lobbies bhall-zviluppaturi kbar li qed ikissru l-lokalitajiet taghna. Mhux ghal kunsilli mahkuma minn qasma partiggjana u piki personali. Izda ghal kunsilli li jharsu l-quddiem, li jaghtu priorita’ lill-kwalita’ tal-hajja tar-residenti.
Il-politika ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika tmur lil’hinn mill-qasma partiggjana, u kunsilliera ta’ AD dejjem hadmu sabiex l-interess tar-residenti jigi l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Ghal kunsilli verament tar-residenti, wiehed jista’ jaghzel, b’kurragg u b’sens ta’ ottimizmu, lill-kandidati ta’ Altrernattiva Demokratika. Inheggeg lill-votanti sabiex imbaghad ikomplu fuq kandidati ohra li verament lesti jaghtu sehemhom lill-lokalita’”
“Bhala chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, u bhala kandidat f’Tas-Sliema nixtieq insellem u nirringrazzja lill-kandidati l-ohra ta’ AD li ghazlu li jmiddu idehjhom ghax-xoghol: Ralph Cassar (Attard); Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer (St Julians); Simon Galea (St Pauls Bay); Solange Sant Fournier (Swieqi); Leonard Schembri (Gzira); Michael Bajada (Munxar); Henrik Piski (Qormi); Robert Callus (Mosta); Andre’ Vella (Balzan); and Michael Briguglio (Sliema)”.
Ralph Cassar, Segretarju Generali ta’ AD u Kunsillier gewwa H’Attard, qal: “Tul is-snin AD dejjem hadmet favur ir-residenti. Tkellmet fuq zvilupp insostenibbli madwar Malta u Ghawdex kollha – fosthom id-dizastru li gabet id-decizjoni tal-Gvern li fl-2006 zied iz-zoni ghall-bini u l-gholi fil-bini fosthom f’H’Attard, is-Swieqi, San Giljan, Tas-Sliema, l-Gzira u Hal Balzan. Ghamlet diversi proposti dwar l-bzonn ta’ spazji miftuha anke f’zoni bhal San Pawl il-Bahar u dwar il-bzonn tal-protezzjoni tal-kampanja inkluz f’Ghawdex u facilitajiet ghar-residenti fil-Munxar. Tul is-snin kunsilliera ta’ AD hadmu biex jiddefendu l-ispazji miuftuha mill-izvilupp, hadmu biex jibdew jintroducu facilitajiet ghall-pedestrians u ghar-roti, u ghamlu pressjoni dwar zvilupp bla razan u insostenibbli. Kunsilliera ta’ AD jaghtu importanza lil facilitajiet ghall-komunita kollha bhal libreriji, attivitajiet kulturali u sportivi u jishqu fuq l-importanza ta’ toroq aktar sikuri u ghall-uzu tal-komunita kollha”.
Carmel Cacopardo, kelliem tal-AD fuq Zvilupp Sostenibbli u Affari Interni qal: “Il-kandidati li qed tipprezenta AD jixirqilhom il-vot ghax bil-hidma taghhom jaghtu tifsira prattika lill-politika lokali li tfittex li ittejjeb il-kwalita’ tal-hajja. Fil-lokalitajiet kollha l-kandidati pprezentati minn AD imexxu l-quddiem politika ambjentali li ghandha tkun parti integrali mill-hidma tal-Kunsill Lokali. L-impatti ambjentali li naraw fuq livell globali nistghu nibdew insibu tarf taghhom jekkk naghrfu nagixxu fuq livell lokali. U ahna u innaqsu l-impatti ambjentali ntejbu l-kwalita tal-hajja tar-residenti. Think Global, act Local.”
“Ghalhekk AD tmexxi l-quddiem politika favur l-uzu ta’ energija alternattiva fil-facilitajiet pubblici, fil-gonna, fit-toroq u fl-ufficini tal-Kunsilli. Ghakhekk kunsilliera ta’ alternattiva demokratika jaghtu importanza lill-kriterji ambjentali fil-processi tax-xiri ta’ servizzi u oggetti (green purchasing).”
“Il-kandidati ipprezentati minn AD jaghtu prijorita lill-mobilita’ sostenibbli. Iheggu l-uzu tat-trasport pubbliku li ghandu jkun uzat u sviluppat biex joffri alternattiva ghall-uzu tal-karozzi privati. Il-Kunsilli Lokali jistghu jaghtu kontribut ghal-titjib fil-kwalita tal-arja fuq livell lokali billi b’servizz efficjenti tat-trasport pubbliku fuq livell regjonali jkunu jistghu jonqsu l-karozzi mit-toroq. Dan kollu jwassal biex jaghti lura t-toroq lir-residenti u jnaqqas il-perikli ghal min jaghzel li jaghmel uzu mir-rota kemm ghal vjaggi qosra kif ukoll ghal vjaggi kemmxejn itwal.”
“Il-kandidati ipprezentati minn AD jaraw rwol importanti ghal Kusnilli Lokali fl-implimentazzjoni tal-istrategija biex il-pajjiz jaddatta ruh ghall-bdil fil-klima. In partikolari AD tinsisti li l-Kunsilli Lokali jkunu involuti iktar fil-politika li tilqa’ kontra l-gharaghar (flooding).”
“AD hi l-uniku partit politiku li hu konxju tal-impatt tal-izvilupp insostenibbli ikkawzat mill-industrija tal-bini li wassal ghal madwar 70,000 propjeta residenzjali vojta imxerrda madwar Malta u Ghawdex. Din il-propjeta’ vojta qed thalli impatt negattiv fuq il-komunitajiet lokali ghax dawn qed jinhtiegilhom jiddedikaw parti mill-finanzi taghhom ghal servizzi f’zoni ta’ propjetajiet vojta. Il-propjeta’ vojta f’malta hi ekwivalenti ghal 9 darbiet id-daqs ta’ B’Kara: dan ifisser spejjes ghal toroq, dwal tat-toroq, bankini, drenagg u l-infrastruttura generali mehtiega liema spejjes kien ikun hafna iktar utli kienku jistghu jkunu dedikati ghal dawk iz-zoni fejn jghixu in-nies.”
