A Committee has been set up for better maintenance and management in Valletta, bringing together the main parties. All this is happening in the context of the work that is being done within the Valletta Management Plan, which should lead to an improvement in the maintenance and management in the Capital City by increasing maintenance, order, security and accessibility.
This Committee will be made up of several interested parties including the Valletta Local Council, the Valletta Cultural Agency, the Police Force, the Cleaning and Maintenance Division, the GHRC , the Maltese Tourism Authority, the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government and the Ministry for Tourism and Public Cleanliness.
The Committee will be chaired by the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Tourism and Public Cleanliness, Anthony Gatt.
The Committee’s work is still in its initial stages but important work has already begun. One of the first initiatives was the creation of the Valletta Stewards and the Cleansing Team for Valletta.
The Valletta Stewards were established to act as a deterrent to vandalism and illegalities, to maintain order, to help locals and tourists, and to ensure that everyone abides by the laws and regulations . They are bound by terms of reference established by the Committee. Uniforms were provided to amplify their presence in the Valletta. Their working hours were made in a way and manner that reflected the economic activity and the influx of tourists in Valletta, including weekend shifts until the early hours of the morning.
The Cleansing Team increased in number as there were already workers carrying out this work in Valletta. The investment in new machinery will also help to increase the efficiency of public cleanliness in the capital city.
These details were announced in a news conference addressed by the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici, the Minister for Tourism and Public Cleanliness Clayton Bartolo and the Permanent Secretary Anthony Gatt.
Minister Owen Bonnici said that Valletta is not only our island’s capital but also a World Heritage site as recognized by UNESCO. Dr. Bonnici stated that the government drafted a management plan for Valletta, which received very positive feedback during public consultation last December. He emphasised the proposal to establish a working committee uniting key stakeholders to safeguard the elements that make Valletta a World Heritage site.
Minister Clayton Bartolo pointed out how balance must reign in everything we do. “In recent years, Valletta has evolved from every aspect so much so that today we have a capital city that is more open to different requests. This advance brought with it a challenge and therefore we want to see that we have a city that is more organised and in which the balance reigns between commercial, touristic and cultural activity while keeping in mind the general interest of the residents and everyone who visits it,” stressed the Minister.
The Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the mentioned Committee, Anthony Gatt stated that the work within the committee has already picked up a good rhythm with the introduction of several initiatives. “Now that the committee has been officially launched, the pace will be accelerated in order to make our capital city a beacon of how a vibrant city should be, economically active but at the same time orderly and clean,” stated Mr Gatt.
In the coming weeks and months more initiatives will be announced in terms of the installation of new signage and more environmental opportunities through which Valletta’s public roads offer a quality product and improve the experience of everyone who visits it.
