Candidate spends campaign funds on public defibrillator instead of flyers

A Nationalist Party candidate has donated an automated external defibrillator to Marsascala after choosing to spend money on the device rather than on campaign flyers.

John Baptist Camilleri, who is contesting the second and third districts, said he wanted to mark his campaign with “something that can truly make a difference” for residents in his hometown.

In a Facebook post on May 9, Camilleri wrote: “Instead of spending money on excessive flyers, I chose to invest in something that can truly make a difference and help save lives, while also caring for the environment.”

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a medical device used to help people experiencing cardiac arrest. It analyses a person’s heart rhythm and, in an emergency, can deliver an electric shock to help restore an effective rhythm.

Speaking to Times of Malta on Saturday, Camilleri said he had noticed that Marsascala, a growing locality, had only one publicly available AED.

“For the demographic of Marsaskala, one is definitely not enough.”

Camilleri, who is a councillor on the Marsascala local council, said AEDs could be costly, and he had started thinking about buying one for the locality instead of spending more money on election material.

“People get propaganda from the parties anyway, so I didn’t want to just give them more only for them to just throw them away. At least like this, there is something that everyone who steps into the locality could benefit from.”

He said the initiative had received positive feedback from across the country.

“People all over were really positive about it and even told me they hoped others would come up with similar initiatives themselves”

Camilleri presented the device to the Marsascala local council and mayor Mario Calleja on May 19.

He also uploaded a video to social media showing him and Calleja holding the AED at the council offices.

In the video, Camilleri again said he had chosen not to spend money on flyers or posters and had instead opted for something more long-lasting. 

“This is my own initiative and I did from the heart for all the Marsascala residents,” he said.

Calleja said the council welcomed the donation. He noted that although Camilleri was an election candidate, he was also a councillor and said the gesture should not be seen only through a political lens but as something intended to benefit Marsascala residents.

The AED is expected to be installed at the Mifsud Bonnici playing fields in the coming days, according to Camilleri.