Andre Buhagiar - Profile
Political Party: Labour
Government Position: Councilor in Mosta Local Council | Sports and Physical Activities, Traffic Management Commitee.
Previous Job: Working as a sports masseur, including with Mosta FC and the Health Department in Malta.
Previous Projects
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Questions (Answers translated from Maltese)
What interested you in taking over the sports and traffic management sectors for your position in the Mosta council?
What attracted me most to these two sectors is that they have a direct impact on people's everyday lives.
Sports has always been an important part of my life and professional background. I have worked in the sports sector, and I understand how important sport is, not only for physical health, but also for mental wellbeing, discipline, teamwork and bringing people together.
Traffic management is different, but equally important. Every resident experiences traffic, parking difficulties and issues with accessibility. I believe that as a councillor, I should focus on areas where I can contribute through my experience, but also where I can listen to residents and turn their concerns into practical proposals.
For me, taking responsibility for these sectors is not about having a title. It is about being present, understanding the problems and following them through until we achieve results.
How do you visualise Mosta (in the social aspect) in the next five years and how would you want to be involved in this?
I would like to see a Mosta that is more organised, more accessible and more active.In five years, I would like residents to feel that their locality has continued to improve, with better traffic management, safer streets, better use of public spaces and stronger sporting opportunities for children, young people and adults.
I also want Mosta to become a locality where sport is not seen simply as football or a particular club. Sport should be accessible to everyone — children, teenagers, families, adults and older people.
My involvement would be very practical. I want to listen to residents, identify problems, bring forward ideas, work with the Council and other stakeholders, and most importantly, follow up.
I don't want to be a councillor who only speaks about what should happen. I want to be involved in making things happen.
What type of initiatives have you worked on previously regarding your field of work, and what was the consensus among the people?
Throughout my involvement in sport, I have been involved in initiatives connected with sporting activities, organisation, administration and the development of opportunities for people to participate.One of the things I have learned is that people respond positively when initiatives are practical and inclusive. They don't necessarily expect everything to be perfect or expensive. They want opportunities that are accessible, well organised and that respond to a genuine need.
I have also learned the importance of consultation. Sometimes an idea may look good on paper, but when you speak to the people who will actually use it, you discover what needs to change.
That is something I would like to bring into my work at the Council: listen first, plan properly and then act.
The consensus I have generally experienced is that people appreciate initiatives when they can see a genuine benefit and when they feel that they have been included in the process.
Do you have any plans regarding the infrastructure of traffic management throughout Mosta and what are your priorities throughout your planning?
Yes. My priority is not simply to introduce more signs, barriers or restrictions. Traffic management needs to be looked at as a complete system.My first priority would be to identify the areas where residents experience the biggest problems — congestion, dangerous junctions, poor pedestrian access, parking difficulties, school traffic and areas where traffic flows are not being managed efficiently.
I would like to see more attention given to pedestrian safety, particularly around schools and areas with high pedestrian movement. We also need to look at accessibility for elderly people, persons with disabilities and families with young children.
Another priority is better traffic flow. Small interventions, when properly planned, can sometimes make a significant difference. But these decisions should be based on observation, data and consultation rather than simply reacting to complaints.
I would also like to strengthen communication with residents. If a change is being proposed, people should understand why it is being made and what problem it is intended to solve.
My approach would therefore be simple: identify the problem, study the situation, consult the people affected, implement the solution and then monitor whether it actually worked.
What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing sports facilities and sporting opportunities in Mosta?
One of the biggest challenges is making sure that the demand for sport is matched by the facilities and opportunities available.
Mosta has many people who are passionate about sport and many organisations and clubs that do excellent work. But we need to continue looking at how our facilities can be improved and how we can create opportunities for more people to participate.
Another challenge is making sport accessible beyond organised clubs. Not every young person wants to join a competitive team. Some simply want a safe place where they can exercise, meet friends and stay active.
I also believe we need to encourage greater participation among groups who may sometimes be left behind — including girls and women, older adults, and people with different abilities.
My vision is for sport in Mosta to become more inclusive and community-focused.
We should not only ask, "How many sporting facilities do we have?"
We should also ask, "How many people are actually using them, and who are we still failing to reach?"
If we can improve our facilities, create more accessible opportunities and work closely with local clubs and organisations, I believe Mosta can become an even stronger sporting community.
Ultimately, my approach to both sport and traffic management is the same: listen to the people, identify what is not working, work together on realistic solutions and then make sure those solutions are actually delivered.