In a press conference in Swieqi, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that residents’ quality of life deserves better in terms of public transport and public order.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “Swieqi has grown from a small village to a hub of activities, especially due to its proximity to Paceville and due to the influx of tourists during the summer months. The locality requires better planning in order that residents’ quality of life is safeguarded”.
Carmel Cacopardo, AD Spokesman for Sustainable Development and Local Government introduced Solange Sant Fournier as AD’s new candidate for the Swieqi Local Council. AD, said Cacopardo is in the process of identifying candidates for the March 2012 round of Local Council elections. These will be announced between now and the beginning of 2012 in Press Conferences in various localities and focusing on issues of a local nature.
Solange Sant Fournier, AD candidate for Swieqi, said: “The new Arriva bus service has meant less pollution, polite drivers, air conditioning and better connections to hitherto unserviced routes. However the Swieqi-Ibrag-St. Andrew’s area is suffering from serious shortcomings: we have not only lost the direct hourly 64 bus to Valletta, it is also becoming difficult to board a bus to Sliema/Valletta from the main road, even more so in summer when various scores of foreign language students crowd the bus stops. AD is proposing that the old 62 bus terminus is reactivated to ensure that a bus leaves there for Valletta at least every 10 minutes, particularly in peak hours. Another route to Valletta from the 62 terminus via the regional road should be introduced”.
Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD Spokesperson and Swieqi resident said: “Public Order is also a problem in the area. As Swieqi residents, we demand that a police station is kept open on a 24 hour basis in the Swieqi area to serve the needs of the over 10,000 Swieqi-Ibrag-St. Andrew’s-Madliena residents. Police should also carry out regular patrols on a 24-hour basis. It is absurd that with the hordes of people -including minors- roaming about the streets of this residential area at 3-4 in the morning screaming their hearts out and disturbing the public peace and trampling on the right to rest of the residents, no concrete definite action is taken by the authorities. AD also believes that hosting of students in unsupervised residencies should be discouraged”.
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Ir-residenti tas-Swieqi haqqhom ahjar – AD
Waqt konferenza stampa fis-Swieqi, l-Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party qalet li l-kwalita tal-hajja tar-residenti tas-Wieqi haqqha tkun ahjar kemm fejn jidhol it-trasport pubbliku kif ukoll l-ordni pubblika..
Michael Briguglio, ic-Chairperson tal-AD, qal: “Is-Swieqi kiber minn villagg zghir ghal centru ta’ attivita, specjalment minhabba li huwa qrib Paceville kif ukoll minhabba li fis-sajf jizdiedu t-turisti. Il-lokalita’ tehtieg ippjanar ahjar sabiex il-kwalita’ tal-hajja tar-residenti tkun imharsa”.
Carmel Cacopardo, il-kelliem tal-AD ghall-Izvilupp Sostenibbli u l-Gvern Lokali introduca lil Solange Sant Fournier bhala l-kandidata l-gdida tal-AD ghall-Kunsill Lokali tas-Swieqi. L-AD, qal Cacopardo qeghda fil-process li tidentifika kandidati ghall-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lockali ta’ Marzu 2012. Dawn ser jigu mhabbra bejn issa u l-bidu tal-2012 waqt Konferenzi Stampa f’lokalitajiet varji li jiffukaw fuq kwistjonijiet ta’ natura lokali.
Solange Sant Fournier, kandidata tal-AD candidate ghas-Swieqi, qalet: “Is-servizz il-gdid tal-Arriva ifisser inqas tniggis, xufiera edukati, arja ikkondizzjonata u anke rotot godda ghal certi positjiet. Madanakollu, l-akkwati tas-Swieqi-Ibrag-St. Andrew’s ghandhom nuqqasijiet serji: mhux biss tlifna l-karozza diretta ghall-Belt, is-64, li kiienet tghaddi kull siegha, imma wkoll qed issir difficli biex taqbad karozza ghal tas-Sliema jew ghall-Belt mit-triq principali, specjalment fis-sajf meta mijiet ta’ studenti barranin jimlew il-bus stops. L-AD qed tipproponi li l-venda tas-62 terga tibda tithaddem biex ikun hemm dejjem karozza li titlaq ghall-Belt mill-inqas kull 10 minuti, specjalment f’certi hinijiet. Barra minn hekk ghandha tigi introdotta rotta ohra ghall-Belt minn fejn titlaq is-62.”
Prof. Arnold Cassola, kelliem tal-AD u resident tas-Swieqi qal: “L-ordni pubblika hija problema ohra f’din il-lokalita’. Bhala residenti tas-Swieqi nixtiequ li jkun hawn ghassa tal-pulizija miftuha 24 siegha fis-Swieqi biex isservi l-bzonnijiet ta’ aktar minn 10,000 resident fil-lokalitajiet tas-Swieqi-Ibrag-St. Andrew’s-Madliena. Il-Pulizija ghandhom ukoll jaghmlu sorveljanza regolari fuq 24 siegha. Hija assurda li bl-eluf ta’ nies – fosthom minuri – iduru mat-toroq ta’ din il-lokalita’ residenzjali fit-3-4 ta’ filghodu, jaghjtu u jiksru l-paci pubblika u ma jhallux lir-residenti jistriehu, qatt ma ttiehdet azzjoni konkreta mill-awtoritajiet biex isibu rimedju ghal din is-sitwazzjoni. L-AD temmen ukoll li mhix idea tajba li studenti jithallew jghixu wahedhom fi djar minghajr supervizjoni “.
