Having been brought up in a family where politics was part of the daily life, as I started growing up I realised that a lot of work can be carried out for the benefit of one's locality and for its residents. I could also realise the problems involved in a politically active life. For this reason, it was not easy to decide on whether I should contest or not the local council elections, at the young age of 24. I had clearly in mind that if I am elected I wanted to be of service to my locality and its residents. I am trying to do my best to look into the people's needs and be of help wherever possible.
I am 26 years old, the youngest and only woman acting as a Mayor that St. Paul's Bay has ever had, and one of the youngest mayors in Malta. San Pawl il-Bahar Local Council is in charge of several areas, like Bugibba, Qawra, Burmarrad, Xemxija and Wardija, wherein about 18,000 residents, including 5,000 foreigners, reside. Several people from different localities around Malta decide to come and live in these areas and hence our population is all the time on the increase. Apart from this, the area is full of different commercial activites. My aim is to reach a balance, perhaps not an easy one, amongst the different needs of those that live and work in St. Paul's Bay. One must keep in mind that together with the commercial activity there is also a substantial amount of people who live in St. Paul’s Bay and its areas all year round. All this would be of great challenge to anyone.
I understand that there are a number of challenges that need to be faced. However, I believe that the energy of a young person together with a strong determination, will eventually lead to a better locality, of course with the help of the other Councillors. Being a woman, probably means that I look at situations from a different perspective. I believe that this will help me understand better the needs of the people residing in San Pawl il-Bahar, often with different social backgrounds. I hope to be able to give a human perspective to the different social needs and to understand these needs, and hence be of help to the people who, in one way or another, fall under the responsability of San Pawl il-Bahar Local Council.
I understand that the people's wishes should be of top priority. Sometimes these wishes cannot be fulfilled, because, for example, they exceed the Council's budget. From my side, I promise to listen to these wishes and try my best to fulfill them in the benefit of our locality.
By looking at this website, one clearly understands the work that has been carried out over the past years by the previous Local Council, to which goes a big thanks. The works carried out by the Local Council include daily cleaning and maintenance, a Day Centre for the elderly, several cultural outings and activities, several educational courses and the establishment of the Local Youth Council. This Local Council besides continuing to work on projects initiated by the previous Local Councils, is also working on a number of new projects. All this for the benefit of OUR locality.
Perit Graziella Galea BE & A (Hons), M.Sc (Road Eng.), A.&C.E.
Mayor