The Government must start listening to local councils, supporting them and giving them greater authority if it truly believes in them

Partit Nazzjonalista local councillors in Msida express solidarity with the Floriana Local Council

The Partit Nazzjonalista local councillors in Msida express their solidarity with the Floriana Local Council, which has spoken out about the lack of government support in addressing the issues of greatest concern to the locality.

Over the past two years, the Msida Local Council has repeatedly raised serious problems facing our community: the waste problem, which continues to worsen rather than being resolved; the lack of a police station; the lack of a health centre; and the fact that Msida residents are still without a residential home for older persons. The Council has also spoken out about the flyover, but its appeals have fallen on deaf ears. It now appears that the Government intends to proceed with the pedestrian bridge project, which will mean that residents wishing to cross from one side of Msida to the other will have to climb and descend three storeys of stairs.

Residents turn to the Council to resolve the problems they encounter. The truth, however, is that local councils have been left without administrative powers over the issues that matter most to residents. As a result, they have become the target of the justified frustration of those who see problems persisting in their town or village, even though the Council often has no power to change the situation.

The lack of authority over decisions that directly affect residents, together with the lack of enforcement powers, has reduced local councils to little more than complaints offices. Council employees and councillors are left having to answer for problems that are beyond their control.

The Partit Nazzjonalista local councillors in Msida call on the Government to review its policy on local councils and restore the powers they need to take decisions on matters affecting people in their locality. A system allowing councils to carry out enforcement within their localities should also be reintroduced. When decisions are taken on major infrastructure developments, the voice of the council and, above all, that of residents must be heard. The Government should not be the sole authority determining the future of our localities.

There is no doubt that this concern is shared by many councils and councillors who are there to genuinely represent and serve residents. In recent weeks, we have heard several mayors and councillors speak about troubling situations that continue to develop in their localities and are negatively affecting people’s quality of life.

If the Government truly believes that local councils represent the people, it must provide stronger support where needed, place greater trust in them and give them greater authority instead of ignoring them.

Charles Selvaggi
PN Mayor of Msida

Christine Amaira
PN Deputy Mayor of Msida

Maurice Agius
PN Local Councillor in Msida

Alfred Farrugia
PN Local Councillor in Msida

Chris Borg
PN Local Councillor in Msida

11.08.2026