IMPENN NAZZJONALI BIEX TITQAJJEM KUXJENZA CIVIKA GHAT-TISBIH TA' L-AMBJENT LOKALI

IMPENN NAZZJONALI BIEX TITQAJJEM KUXJENZA ĊIVIKA G'�AT-TISBI'� TA' L-AMBJENT LOKALI

Il-Ministeru tal-Ġustizzja u Gvern Lokali llum nieda kampanja nazzjonali biex titqajjem kuxjenza ċivika li tippromwovi aktar titjib fl-ambjent lokali f'kull belt u raħal f'Malta u Għawdex. L-għan ewlieni ta' din il-kampanja, li ngħatat l-isem Sebbaħ Pajjiżek, huwa li tħajjar il-kunsilli lokali, residenti u l-entitajiet kummerċjali biex jipparteċipaw f'kompetizzjoni għat-tisbiħ tal-lokalitajiet rispettivi li fl-istess ħin tista' trebbaħhom premjijiet fi flus. Dan tħabbar mill-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja u Gvern Lokali waqt l-inawgurazzjoni tal-kampanja Sebbaħ Pajjiżek fil-lukanda Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort.

'�all-inawgurazzjoni tkellmu wkoll ir-rappreżentanti ta' l-isponsors ewlenin fosthom iċ-Chairman tal-Bank of Valletta, is-Sur Joseph F.X.Zahra, iċ-Chairman tal-Middle Sea Group, is-Sur Mario Grech, iċ-Chairman ta' l-Awtorita' tat-Turiżmu, Dr. John C. Grech, iċ-Chairman tal-Maltapost, is-Sur Frank Dimech u l-General Manager tas-Central Cigarette Co Ltd, is-Sur Ronnie Abela.

Fl-indirizz tiegħu il-Ministru Gatt qal din il-kompetizzjoni ser tkun mifruxa fuq perjodu ta' tlett snin u ser tgħin biex tħajjar ir-residenti biex jingħaqdu mal-kunsilliera fuq inizjattivi favur l-ambjent. Dr. Gatt enfasizza l-importanza ta' din il-kompetizzjoni speċjalment fejn qed jidħlu bi sħab il-Kunsilli Lokali, l-Awtorita` tat-Turiżmu u s-settur privat.

"L-ambjent huwa responsabbilit'� ewlenija tal-Kunsilli Lokali u l-inizjattivi li ħadu fil-passat huma xhieda ta' dan. Hawnhekk irrid insemmi wkoll ir-relevanza ta' dan ir-rwol għas-settur turistiku" stqarr Dr. Gatt.

Huwa semma wkoll l-inizjattiva tal-Gwardjani Lokali, u spjega kif il-preżenza tagħhom f'diversi lokalitajiet huwa impenn ieħor biex il-pubbliku jkun edukat dwar id-dmirijiet tagħhom biex inżommu pajjiżna nadif. Dr. Gatt ħabbar kif l-Awtorita` tat-Turiżmu ser tagħti wħud mill-funzjonijiet ta' infurzar lill-Gwardjani Lokali, biex b'hekk tkompli titjieb ir-relazzjoni bejn il-Gvern Lokali u l-industrija tat-turiżmu.

Il-Ministru Gatt temm id-diskors tiegħu billi irringrazzja l-isponsors kollha ta' l-għajnuna speċjalment dik finanzjarja u faħħarhom ta' l-impenn tagħhom biex jikkontribwixxu sabiex ikollna pajjiż isbaħ u aktar nadif.

Il-kompetizzjoni, li hija mqassma f'erbatax il-kategorija, tippremja l-aħjar sforz għat-tindif u titjib 'enerali, l-isbaħ gallarija u faċċata tad-dar, l-aħjar żona residenzjali, tisbiħ ta' 'onna pubbliċi, imsieraħ u spazji pubbliċi oħra, tindif ta' xtut u promenades, l-aħjar sforz jew inizjattiva minn entitajiet kummerċjali u l-aħjar sforz biex jissebbħu żoni mhux urbani. Ir-rebbieħa u r-runner-up f'kull kategorija ser jingħataw premjijiet fi flus. Fil-fatt il-fond kollu tal-kompetizzjoni jammonta għall-Lm9,500. Ser jingħata wkoll premju nazzjonali ta' Lm2,000 lill-Kunsill Lokali li ji'bor l-aktar punti minn għażla ta' kompetizzjonijiet. Biex kull Kunsill Lokali jingħata l-istess opportunita' ser jingħataw tlett premjijiet għall-aħjar sforz għat-tindif skond il-popolazzjoni tal-lokalit'�.

Il-kompetizzjonijiet li huma miftuħin għar-residenti u l-entitajiet kummerċjali ser ikunu mqassma f'żew' fażijiet. L-ewwel fażi ser tikkonsisti f'kompetizzjoni fil-lokalita` rispettiva li ser tkun i''udikata minn panel magħżul mill-Kunsill Lokali. L-aħjar sottomissjonijiet imbagħad ser ikollhom iċ-ċans jipparteċipaw fil-kompetizzjoni nazzjonali. L-għażliet għaż-żew' fażijiet ser ikunu bbażati fuq numru ta' kriterji fosthom l-estetika, tiżjin u manutenzjoni fil-każ ta' l-aħjar faċċata jew gallarija. Filwaqt li t-tindif 'enerali, użu ta' pjanti, sinjali, faċilitajiet ta' ipparkjar, tindif tat-toroq, l-ipprovediment ta' reċipjenti għall-skart domestiku u skips ser ikunu fost il-kriterji għall-i''udikar tal-kategoriji l-oħra.

Il-kompetizzjoni Sebbaħ Pajjiżek ser titqassam fuq perjodu ta' sena u ser tibda il-'imgħa d-dieħla b'sitt kategoriji fosthom, l-aħjar sforz għat-tindif jew titjib 'enerali, l-aħjar inizjattiva kummerċjali u l-aħjar sforz biex jissebħu żoni mhux urbani. Kategoriji oħra ser jibdew f'perjodi differenti tas-sena.

NATIONAL DRIVE TO ENHANCE CIVIC PRIDE AND EMBELLISH THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The Ministry for Justice and Local Government today launched a nationwide campaign aimed at instilling civic pride and promoting further improvement in the surrounding environment of all localities in Malta and Gozo. Entitled SebbaħPajjiżek, the campaign encourages local councils, residents and the commercial community to participate in a competition which seeks to embellish their respective locality while at the same time could win them monetary prizes. This was announced by the Minister for Justice and Local Government, Dr. Austin Gatt during a Press Launch held at the Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort.

The Press Launch was also addressed by representatives of the main sponsors of this campaign including, Bank of Valletta Chairman, Mr. Joseph F.X.Zahra, Middle Sea Insurance Group Chairman, Mr. Mario Grech, Malta Tourism Authority Chairman, Dr. John C. Grech, Maltapost Chairman, Mr. Frank Dimech and the General Manager of Central Cigarette Co. Ltd., Mr. Ronnie Abela.

Addressing the press conference Minister Gatt stated that this competition will run for the next three years, and will focus mainly on promoting the involvement of the residents together with the initiative of the Councillors. Dr. Gatt stressed the importance of this competition especially regarding the partnerships between Local Councils, the Malta Tourism Authoirty and the Private Sector.

"The Environment is one of the key roles of Local Councils, and their track record is surely a positive one. We also have to mention the relevance of such a role for the Tourism sector," added Dr. Gatt.

He referred to the Local Wardens initiative, and how their presence in our localities is yet another effort to educate the public about what are our duties towards the cleanliness of our country. Dr. Gatt announced that the Malta Tourism Authority will be delegating some of its enforcement functions to the Local Wardens too, enhancing the close relationship there is between the Local Government and the Tourism Industry in general.

Minister Gatt concluded the speech by thanking all the sponsors for their financial and moral support, and by praising their commitment towards a better and cleaner Malta.

The competition, which is divided into 14 categories, rewards efforts for best overall tidiness and improvement, best decorated balcony or facade, best kept residential area, embellishment of public gardens, parks and squares, beach tidiness and promenade, best effort or initiative by the commercial community and best overall tidiness in an non-urban area. The winner and runner-up in each category will be awarded monetary gifts in fact the total prize fund of the competition amounts to Lm9,500. A national prize amounting to Lm2,000 is being awarded to the local council with the highest average marks from various local councils' competition. In order to give equal opportunities to every local council three national overall tidiness awards based on the population of the locality are also being awarded.

The competitions which are open to residents and the commercial community will run on two phases. The first phase will consist of a competition in each respective locality which will be judged by a panel of judges appointed by the respective local council. The best entries will then be forwarded for the national competition. The judging for both phases of the competition will be based on a number of criteria including aesthetics, tasteful decorations and maintenance in the case of the best decorated facade or balcony. General tidiness, careful use of plants, attractive signage, orderly use of available parking facilities, cleanliness of streets and availability and placement of public bins and skips will be among the criteria which will be used for judging purposes in the other categories.

The Sebbah Pajjizek competition will be spread over a period of one year and will commence next week with six categories namely, best overall tidiness, best improvement, best effort and initiative by a commercial community and best overall tidiness in a non-urban area. Other categories will commence at different periods of the year.