Promises for Fleur-de-Lys

I refer to the letter by Birkirkara mayor Doris Borg (July 4). I wish to reply to some of the statements made by Ms Borg.

1) I can assure the mayor that it is because I do go around and check Fleur-de-Lys that I am able to keep Birkirkara local council advised about the needs of our hamlet.

2) As to the resurfacing of main roads, these fall under the Roads Department and not the local council.

3) The mayor mentioned the maintenance of gardens. What maintenance is being done? Moreover, why gardens? So far as I know, we have only one garden. Please do take a stroll and check.

4) She mentioned the restoration of the arches. We would be obliged if she can inform us what work has been started and completed.

5) With regard to the Wignacourt aqueduct committee, the residents of Fleur-de-Lys would like to know: a) when the committee was formed, b) the work it has done so far, and c) when was the last meeting held.

6) Regarding Triq il-Fniek, the work on this road was voted to start and be completed in 2000-2001 and not in the last quarter of last year. The mayor should check the budget for that period. For the information of the residents I would like to make it clear that were it not for my constant reminders, both orally and in writing, I wonder if the job would have been started let alone be completed.

7) When I had asked the previous mayor to tell us the sum allotted to Fleur-de-Lys and explain how this money was spent the mayor refused. I hope the present mayor will be more generous and let us have these details.

8) As regards A. Cuschieri Street, I must thank the mayor for saying that work on this road will start soon, hopefully by this year.

Allow me to inform residents that last December I moved a motion that the chairman was to be a resident of Fleur-de-Lys. I was seconded and the motion approved as can be verified by the minutes of the meeting. At the request of the previous mayor, we agreed that the new local chairman would be elected after the last local council elections. However, this vote taken democratically seems to have been disregarded and the post of Fleur-de-Lys chairman is now occupied by the new mayor without the two local residents' associations being consulted as the previous mayor had done.

I appreciate that the new mayor needs time to adapt to her new role, however this should not hinder the running of the council and, secondly, she should make the necessary verifications before putting pen to paper.