Filwaqt li jirrispetta l-libertà tal-espressjoni, il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana jikkundanna kategorikament kull kumment u ton li huwa intenzjonat li jirredikola l-lokalità u lir-residenti hekk kif espressi fl-opinjoni tas-Sa. Kristina Chetcuti fuq The Times of Malta.
Ta’ min ifakkar, jew possibilment jinforma lis-Sa. Chetcuti li, fuq kull naħa ta’ dak li fl-artiklu ssejjaħlu ‘nothing but’ 400m strip (b’referenza għal Triq Sant’ Anna), wieħed isib binjiet residenzjali li fihom jgħixu bnedmin bħal f’kull belt, raħal, jew villaġġ ieħor f’Malta. Insibu wkoll uffiċini li joffru servizzi lill-komunità u l-kwartieri ta’ istituzzjonijiet kemm ċivili kif ukoll reliġjużi, ġonna u spazji pubbliċi, veduti spettakolari ta’ Marsamxett u l-Port il-Kbir, kif ukoll binijiet storiċi u l-akbar konċentrazzjoni ta’ monumenti pubbliċi f’pajjiżna.
Fl-aħħar u mhux l-inqas, nieħdu din l-opportunità biex nassiguraw lil kulħadd li l-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana, kien u ser jibqa’ dejjem magħqud unanimament favur kull proġett propost li għandu l-intenzjoni li jtejjeb il-ħajja tar-residenti li aħna lkoll nirrappreżentaw, mingħajr ebda interess partiġġjan jew personali, u dan għax nemmnu fi Floriana dejjem aħjar, u b’ambjent san mhux biss għall-ftit eluf ta’ nies li jgħixu fil-lokalità, iżda wkoll għall-konvenjenza tal-pubbliku ġenerali, inkluż dawk li sal-lum iħarsu lejn il-Floriana bħala ‘non-existent’.
Nawguraw li din it-trasformazzjoni pożittiva tal-lokalità tagħna sservi għal ħafna bħala spazju rikreattiv u ta’ serħan il-moħħ f’pajjiżna. Sadattant, infakkru liċ-ċittadini kollha li dan l-ambjent diġà jeżisti fi 11-il ġnien li nsibu madwar il-lokalità li nservu u li hija għal qalbna – il-Floriana.
While respecting everyone’s right of expression & freedom of speech, the Floriana Local Council categorically condemns any comment and tone that is intended to ridicule the locality and its people as expressed in Ms Kristina Chetcuti’s opinion on the Times of Malta.
We would like to reiterate that on both sides of the ‘nothing but’ 400m strip (St Anne’s Street) as mentioned by Ms Chetcuti, one can find residential units with residents like in any other city, town, or village on the Maltese Islands. Floriana also has community service offices and headquarters of both the civil service and religious authorities, a number of beautiful open garden spaces, jaw dropping views of Marsamxett, the Grand Harbour, historical buildings and the largest concentration of public monuments in Malta.
Finally, and most importantly, we take this opportunity to put everyone’s mind at rest that the Floriana Local Council was and will always be unanimously in favour of any proposed project having the intention to improve first and foremost the wellbeing of the residents the Local Government represents, putting aside any partisan or personal interests, believing in a better, greener, healthier Floriana. This is not only for the people residing here, but also for the greater convenience of the public, including those who up till today are perceiving Floriana as ‘non-existent’.
This project will give our green Floriana a makeover, giving the opportunity to residents to have more open spaces and a better air quality. In the meantime, may we remind all citizens, that this environment is somehow already available in the 11 gardens in the locality we love and serve – Floriana.
