'Main political parties put residents last during electoral campaign': activists

Il-Kollettiv on Wednesday accused the main political parties of pandering to big business lobbies despite residents' real fears of further overconstruction, overpopulation and traffic.

“This was the first electoral campaign in which residents from different parts of Malta felt compelled to organise their own events, a clear sign that the political parties have not given any attention to their realities,” said Jeanette Borg, president of Il-Kollettiv.

“Both parties have made numerous vague promises involving the expansion of infrastructure, a review of planning laws and local plans, without clear initiatives to limit population increase.

"Quite to the contrary, it seems as if they’re warning us that there’s no intention to regulate, let alone change, the economic model, and that its main side-effects will continue to be borne by residents for years to come.”

The group said many of the ambitious proposals did little to solve the immediate, day-to-day issues faced in our towns. 

Borg referred to residents' fear of development in Żurrieq's Nigret and taż-Żnuber in Mellieħa, where public land in a residential area was "given away for the construction of a hotel".

And in Safi and Swatar, the development of numerous rationalisation zones foresaw a "massive dumping of apartment blocks on virgin land that serves as a breathing space", she added.

The group also expressed its solidarity with Naxxar residents, saying their safety and peace of mind were under threat after the partial collapse of a building site in the locality.

“The impunity afforded to these so-called developers is a dangerous precedent. Even here, both parties decided to play silent hostages for fear of upsetting a major electoral donor, leaving residents on their own.” 

“We are pleased to see so many residents coming together to work for their town and their own quality of life. At election time, it has become more obvious that they are being treated as second-class citizens in their own country. Political parties should consider these groups as an active part of Maltese society, especially since they have been asking for dialogue since day one."