Watch: ‘I Feel Like I’m Living In Poverty’ – Sliema Mayor Says He Can Barely Afford His Rent
Sliema mayor John Pillow has opened up about his struggles to get by solely on his mayor’s honorarium and said he feels as though he’s “living in poverty”.
During an interview on Jon Mallia’s ‘Il-Podcast ta’ Jon’ podcast, Pillow said he currently pays €710 a month in rent, which is already high considering his honorarium is €1,522 and doesn’t even cover his telephony and fuel costs.
However, after his landlord informed him he needs the property for himself, Pillow was forced to find a new place and was confronted with the brutal reality of Malta’s rental market.
“I can’t find a place that is less than €1,200, €1,500,” Pillow said. “How will I pay for it? I seriously feel like I’m living in poverty and I say this with utmost responsibility.”
Pillow said he quit his job when he was elected mayor, cognisant of the fact that he wouldn’t be able to properly fulfil his mayorship duties on a full-time job.
“If I’m going to be mayor, I want to be a mayor on the ground who is constantly present, and that’s not compatible with a full-time job,” he said. “Full-time mayors need a higher salary, and I have told the Prime Minister about this privately too.”
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