The St Paul’s Bay Local Council has approved a motion put forward by ADPD, The Green Party councillor and party chairperson Sandra Gauci, calling on government to hand over eco-tax revenues from tourist accommodation directly to the council.Gauci argued that St Paul’s Bay, being one of Malta’s largest and most tourism-heavy localities, bears the brunt of mass tourism’s impact, from waste generation to infrastructure strain. She insisted that funds collected from the eco-tax should be used to directly support the locality’s upkeep and quality of life for residents.“Tourism has a clear and direct effect on communities like ours. Local councils need urgent support to protect residents’ quality of life. Passing the tax directly to us, instead of funneling it back into the sector, is the obvious first step,” Gauci said.She went further, calling the current €0.50 daily charge- capped at €5 per stay- “ridiculous”, and argued for an increase that reflects the real impact of tourism on localities like St. Paul’s Bay.The motion’s approval did not come without controversy. Labour councillors strongly opposed it, reportedly reacting with outbursts, interruptions, and personal insults during the session. Gauci criticised their behaviour, saying the councillors treated every proposal as a political attack on government rather than engaging in constructive discussion.“This puerile way of doing politics doesn’t serve residents,” Gauci added, pledging to continue presenting proposals in the locality’s interest despite resistance.The approved motion formally requests that the eco-tax collected from tourists staying in St Paul’s Bay be transferred from the Malta Tourism Authority to the local council, to fund road cleaning, waste collection, maintenance, and other services stretched by the surge in visitors, especially during summer.It is now up to the government to respond to the council’s request. Gauci warned that, as in other areas, there is concern that the government may choose to retain tight control rather than empowering local councils, testing its commitment to local democracy.What do you make of this?•