A note to the residents of Gharb

Dear Resident of Gharb,

I thought that I should share with you my feeling of deep gratitude.

First of all, I would like to thank so many of you for extending to me such a warm welcome when I visited your homes, during the electoral campaign for the Gharb Local Council. Also for sharing with me your concerns and your ideas as to how the local administration of our beautiful village can be substantially improved.

I also appreciated every feedback I received from you, whether by mobile, email or face-to-face, on anything which affects our village both in a negative as well as in a positive way.

I should mention my thanks for Oisin J. Dillon for assisting me during the campaign, coupled with the warmth you extended during his visits.

Above all, my heartfelt thanks go to those 12% (or 99 ppl.) of the residents who expressed their trust in me and fully believed in my capability to meet their expectations so much so that they honoured me with their Nr. 1 vote on the ballot paper. My thanks also go to those who supported me with their 2nd or other preference.

I would like to take this opportunity to express words of encouragement to the few people in Gharb who decided not to cast their vote because either they lost hope of seeing any change or they wanted to send a message to someone, a sort of “payback time”. To these people I would like to explain that I only needed 5 more votes to be elected. These 5 votes would have been enough to guarantee my placement for more justice, transparency and democracy in our village.

Finally I would like to congratulate the five elected councillors and encourage them to work together while promoting the interests of this village and ALL its residents without fear, favour and irrespective of their political leanings.

In conclusion I shall continue to fight for our village and be of service to you. So please, whenever you consider the need, feel free to contact me.

Best wishes to all on the occasion of our village Festa.

Victor Galea

The people voted in Gharb - 5 votes made the difference

GĦARB (23)
Registered voters 1180 Votes cast 860 Invalid votes 33 Quota 138 Valid votes 827

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party	COUNT
(AD)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Galea Victor	99	104	104	104	106	110	110	112	119
Partit Laburista	COUNT
(PL)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Brooke Lisa Marie	122	129	141E	138E	138E	138E	138E	138E	138E
Cassar Kevin	59	62	78	79	80	85	85	0	0
Muscat Emanuel	67	77	85	87	90	90	90	164E	138E
Muscat Jacob Joe	38	41	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Partit Nazzjonalista	COUNT
(PN)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Apap Agius David	298E	138E	138E	138E	138E	138E	138E	138E	138E
Cassar Joseph	32	67	69	69	76	0	0	0	0
Cassar Raymond	64	93	94	94	106	151E	138E	138E	138E
Refalo Alison	23	45	45	45	0	0	0	0	0
Vella Carmen	25	71	71	71	90	106	119	122	124E
Non Transferable Votes	0	0	2	2	3	9	9	15	32
TOTAL	827	827	827	827	827	827	827	827	827

Candidates Elected
1	Apap Agius David (Partit Nazzjonalista)
2	Brooke Lisa Marie (Partit Laburista)
3	Cassar Raymond (Partit Nazzjonalista)
4	Muscat Emanuel (Partit Laburista)
5	Vella Carmen (Partit Nazzjonalista)

My Convictions

Gozo 7th Wonder on again off again

As predicted and much expected, on the eve of the European Parliament Elections, the applicant of the Dwejra Monster (PA/02418/09) applied not to demolish this illegality but "to amend the development permission".

You may follow these links as a reminder: www.adgozo.com/?news=2694; www.adgozo.com/?news=3067 and this from my blog: http://victorgalea.blogspot.com/2008/04/dwejra-enforcement-cases.html

Since "our countryside shrinks by the day", perhaps one might want to do something or else just ignore. What other choice?

One of the many Gozo-lovers wrote an interesting contribution regading this ugly eyesore on gozonews.com

Imagine the progress to take place in Gozo by electing a Green MEP

Following recent criticism by the Gozo Tourism Association on the prevailing situation in the tourism sector, I accompanied Prof. Arnold Cassola and Ms. Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD's two candidates for the European parliament, had the opportunity to visit one of Gozo's most attractive tourist site, Marsalforn Bay.

As the spokesperson for Gozo's AD Regional Committee and AD candidate for Gharb Local Council, I said that, "the state of utter neglect which stares you in the face when you visit this scenic bay, which is supposed to feature as one of Gozo's main touristic hubs, is a clear manifestation of the degradation of the Gozo's touristic product. As a result of this lethargic inaction in Marsalforn, those who are suffering the consequences in a direct way are the business outlets and the restaurants in the area."

"To mention a few examples; there is the broken breakwater, which has been left unrepaired for years, beachcleaning carried out without supervision, broken light units and pavements posing danger to the health and safety of passersby. Whilst the powers-that-be dream of grandiose plans and huge projects, they are incapable of taking care of even the most basic needs."

Arnold Cassola, Chairperson , Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, and AD candidate for the June 6 MEP elections, declared, "if I or Vyonne Arqueros Ebejer are elected by the Maltese and Gozitan Electorate to the EP, we promise that we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to include Gozo in all possible projects so that the Island of Three Hills, can emerge from its current state of total neglect and abandonment, mainly due to the state of inertia which characterises the island's administration, to a dedicated and determined hands-on approach towards immediate fulfillment of its great potential for job opportunities in the tourism sector." Prof Cassola concluded by saying, "Gozo and the Gozitans deserve much more than the limited visionary approach adopted by the current administration in Gozo."

European Parliament Election - Ballot Paper

Guidelines for the retrieval of undelivered Voting Documents for the Gharb Local Council Election on Saturday, 6th June 2009.

Not voting means nothing except letting others to make your choices for you. In Gharb, five people are going to get elected anyway. It might be too late after the 6th of June to make your voice heard!

Electorate who have not received their voting document for the Gharb Local Council Election, may call personally and present their identity card at the Gharb local Police Station to collect their voting document during the days and office hours indicated below:

From Wednesday 20^th May until Sunday 31^st May:

Mondays to Saturdays: between 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. and between 3.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m.

Sunday 24th May: between 9.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.

Sunday 31st May: between 8.00 a.m. and noon

All applicants must show their identity card.
Every voter should ensure that the voting document is in his possession as nobody shall be allowed to vote without it on polling day, Saturday 6th June, 2009 at Gharb Primary School in Visitation Street from 7:00AM until 10:00PM

Thanks

Victor Galea

‘Green’ Candidate for the Gharb Local Council Election.

Contesting for the Gharb Local Council Election - 6th June 2009

After some feedback and encouragement from a number of local residents I decided to give my contribution as a candidate for the Gharb Local Council Election which is to take place on the 6th of June 2009.


My campaign team met more than once in order to brainstorm ideas and suggestions and we came up with the following proposals:







INFRASTRUCTURE

• The construction of Gharb residential roads meets professional standards, and that there will be no further excuses that such roads do not fall under the Council’s jurisdiction.

• Road pavements will be of a better design and quality.

ENVIRONMENT

• the collection system of bulky refuse and domestic garbage and waste is improved.
• Gharb will be a role model village for other towns in Malta and Gozo; together we will pave the way in rural and sustainable development and alternative energy sources through our contacts with experts on Green jobs and renewables.
  

GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY

• The Gharb Council will truly represent and address any issue on behalf of its residents; once elected, I shall be in the forefront, as always, to suggest and to provide constructive criticism when dealing with Authorities such as the Gozo Ministry, other Ministries, MEPA, Transport Authority, and will make sure that residents’ needs are given due attention.

• The democratic process is transparent and participatory.

• A Citizens’ Advice Bureau is set up in order to freely support those persons who seek advice in areas where they feel that their rights and obligations are trampled upon, or when they feel lost in the maze of beauracracy and complex legal procedures.
  

WIED IL-MIELAH

• Immediate action will be taken to repair the Wied il-Mielah drainage system; it is no longer acceptable that the first drop of rain creates a polluted raw sewage outflow in the valley and the sea.

AGRICULTURE

• Farmers and townfolk need and will obtain better footpaths and easier access to reach their fields.

• Professional support will be offered to field owners interested in introducing organic farming.

• An efficient rain water management system will be installed to avoid water wastage and street flooding; this could be supplied to those residents who need such resource.

TOURISM / EMPLOYMENT

• Niche tourism such as eco, agro, gastronomy and cultural projects, will be initiated in Gharb and these will provide added income for our locals and an added value to tourists and tour operators.

• The rich historical heritage, religious and social traditions of Gharb will be highlighted in activities and tourist attractions.

YOUTH

• Full support will be given to the social, sport, music, arts and cultural activities held by our town organizations as well as mobilizing all available resources.

• Our young people will have exchange opportunities abroad to other EU towns and cities.

• Strong investment in Information Technology.

SENIOR CITIZENS

• All senior citizens including non Maltese residents, will be given the opportunity to take part in events customised for them.

EDUCATION

• Our Council continues to create educational opportunities for our young and adults alike by providing courses and vocational training within the framework of lifelong learning.

• There is co-operation and co-ordination with the Educational Authorities so that the school in Gharb will truly become a Community Learning Centre for everyone including non Maltese residents.